Chair of Ilfracombe Community Land Trust, Mark Read, speaking from the Bicclescombe site.
On July 30th, the evening edition of “Spotlight” came live from Ilfracombe – and featured two members of the Board of our Community Land Trust. After an introduction which set the scene by contrasting Ilfracombe’s beauty, historic interest and visitor attractions with the unseen reality of deprivation, the focus switched to the town’s housing crisis.
Terry Elliot being interviewed by BBC Spotlight's Victoria Graham
With contributions from Councillor Graham Bell, and our very own Mark Read and Terry Elliott, the message was clear: we desperately need affordable rental housing. As Mark pointed out, our Bicclescombe project is, in a small but important way, modelling an alternative approach to housing; and Terry helpfully framed our local housing crisis within a wider picture of failure to invest in areas of deprivation like Ilfracombe, and in the housing that those on lower incomes need – and deserve. Terry was also able to emphasise the link between the quality of housing and people’s physical and mental well-being. To hear the statistic that life expectancy in Ilfracombe is 15% lower than in the wealthiest part of Devon was truly shocking. The new government’s house building programme will surely be judged on whether they can deliver quality housing that is affordable for all…