MP pleased with coastal buy and lease plan for homes at risk from sea

MP pleased with coastal buy and lease plan for

homes at risk from sea

10 November 2009, Great Yarmouth

Tony Wright MP has said that he supports the new proposals by Lord Smith , the former Labour  MP to help hundreds of homeowners whose homes are at risk from coastal erosion.

Lord Smith, the Chairman of the Environment Agency, has said that Government Funding should be given to local  authorities to buy homes threatened by coastal erosion along the region’s coast and then lease them back to the owners until they become too dangerous to live in. The houses would be bought at the original market value.

Tony said:

‘I welcome the proposals of Lord Smith and I know it will give peace of mind to many people. Lord Smith has always been clear about his opinion in meetings I have shared with him and I too believe it to be the best option. Hopefully this will send a strong message to the Government and I will be seeking a meeting with the Minister to discuss this.  I have always supported and campaigned for the various coastal erosion groups in my constituency and this proposal can be implemented for a relatively small amount of money but is really significant to those people with homes at risk. It is right that there should be some form of financial assistance.’