A Sandown Town Councillor has responded to claims from another councillor that restrictions on HMOs (Houses of Multiple Occupancy) would target the vulnerable and fuel homelessness.
In an article published in Island Echo on Thursday (25th September), Councillor Debbie Andre criticised what she regarded as ‘nimbyism’, which she regarded as “a direct attack on the vulnerable in our community”.
Cllr Paddy Lightfoot has written in response:
“Let me be clear on the facts (not opinion): The proposal from Sandown Town Council does not ask the Isle of Wight Council to ban HMOs. Sadly – in our current society – we need HMOs and they are used by people from all different backgrounds.
“Secondly, the Bay area has a disproportionate number of licensed HMOs compared to other areas of the Island (data provided by the Isle of Wight Council):
Sandown: 7 HMOs for a population of 7,250 (1 HMO per 1,036 residents)
Shanklin: 11 HMOs for a population of 9,188 (1 HMO per 835 residents)- 1 more has just been approved
Lake: 2 HMOs for a population of 5,117 (1 HMO per 2,559 residents)
Newport: 13 HMOs for 26,109 residents (1 per 2,008)
Ryde: 13 HMOs for 24,901 residents (1 per 1,915)
Cowes: 3 HMOs for 14,724 residents (1 per 4,908)“Thirdly, Cllr Andre selectively quoted me. I said:
‘Portsmouth City Council record all incidents and complaints where it is HMO related, whether it is anti social behaviour, litter, drug use, whatever, so they absolutely have the data which says too many HMO’s causes a problem in the community, that’s irrefutable. The Isle of Wight Council doesn’t record that, so you can’t refute it.
Article continues below this advertisement ‘We’re not saying no HMO’s, what we’re saying is manage it, because it’s a problem, and I can’t see how you can say you can’t support that. I know its more work for the Isle of Wight Council, but if they don’t manage it, its just going to cause a problem, even more than we’ve got now. We’ve shown here, from the statistics that the Bay is taking a very unfair share of the problem.’
“A quick google on ‘HMO density and distribution’ and there’s authority after authority providing reasoned justifications for oversight. If you still don’t accept that this translates to the Island then just talk to the residents of Avenue Rd who packed a meeting at the Broadway centre to voice their concern about an additional two HMOs being commissioned by the Isle of Wight Council on Avenue Rd, when there are already a significant number in the immediate area. The Police will also corroborate the high number of call outs they have had to another HMO in the vicinity.
“Lastly – this proposal to ask the IOW Council to manage the number and density of HMOS, was voted through by 10 out of the 12 councillors.
“I would not normally engage in a disagreement with another councillor through the media, but cannot allow her opinion on Sandown Town Council matters to be mistaken for the facts.
“Cllr Andre is presenting us with an image of humanitarian empathy and care that is cynical self-publicity in place of the solid, professional, well-informed and deeply engaged civic leadership we actually need from her. She does both the Town Council and the resident, who she is supposed to represent, a great disservice with her statement.
“And in other matters – really not relevant to this statement but again not rooted in fact. Her proposal to draw up a Neighbourhood Plan failed to get any support from fellow councillors and would now be redundant in any case due to the new Island Plan. The possibility of a Place Plan was offered by the Isle of Wight Council and was accepted and unanimously supported by all Sandown Town Councillors (including Cllr Andre) and is now making an impact.”
It’s very sad that we’re heading back to the Victorian era of renting rooms rather than homes. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer. How can we house immigrants when we can’t house our own people?
I had neighbours who owned their home who behaved in an appalling manner, in the same area where there were none, there were regular arrests, rubbish , and dumped cars. It would be interesting to look at areas where the crime rate and antisocial behaviour prevail to the ones with HMOs. Also, why are there so many properties in those areas that attract change of use from private homes, or rented flats? Are they in ” sought after” areas? Instead of ghettos, why not offer such people supported housing scattered around the Island. Maybe start in Seaview, where there appears to be a glut of empty homes.
Thankyou for the clarification. Island residents need their Councillors to act on their behalf. Does not sound like Ms Andre is doing that. I can’t imagine anyone, given the choice, would want an HMO in their street! Particularly when they seem, so often, to be men of a certain type
Sadly most of the occupants of HMO’s don’t know how to behave and are not house trained.
At least with all the HMO’s in one place the Police know where to go most times.