Exmoor Uprising: Ease housing shortage with Log Cabins

[Gerrard Winstanley]

see also
Peasants' revolt in the hills - Tue03Feb09
http://www.thisiswesternmorningnews.co.uk/news/Peasants-revolt-hillsarticle-664952-details/article.html


'Use log cabins to ease housing shortage on Exmoor' says group
Thursday, February 05, 2009, 07:00

ONE solution to the need for more housing within the Exmoor National Park has been put forward by a newly-formed pressure group.

Exmoor Rising — the group behind protests which eventually resulted in the preservation of the ancient Blackpitts bungalow — has put forward the suggestion of mobile log cabins as a solution, which would allow expanding families to remain in their Exmoor villages.

The pressure group has turned its attention to what it describes as "nit-picking" by ENPA planners, over costly restrictions such as false chimneys and wooden double glazing.

But at the top of its list are proposals for low cost log cabins, which they believe could ease the affordable housing situation, as temporary buildings, while remaining sympathetic to the landscapes.

Campaigner Molly Groves, who lives at Oare told the latest Exmoor Uprising meeting last Friday: "Exmoor is a living breathing entity and unless it has security and future for all its residents it will die.

"Without the four generations being able to live in the moorland hamlets, the moor will die.

"The babies and children keep the schools, doctors, village shops and village halls going. They are the lifeblood."

And she stressed that each generation brought their own learning, understanding and experience to managing the moor.

"But the serious gap between the moor folk and Exmoor National Park Authority has never been greater.

"If there is any hope of this gap being breached, there must be co-operation, not simply one side telling the other what it needs or should have, but agreement, understanding and balanced negotiation," she said.

Mobile log cabins were her case in point.

"We are always hearing about care in the community.

"If you can put up mobile log cabins for family near one another, there is less need for childcare nurseries, which are impossible in rural areas," she said.

"Older people can move into these log cabins and be looked after by their families.

"Old people who have their families popping in, keep their mental and physical capabilities far longer. And the placement of mobile log cabins can be very discreet.

"Mobile log cabins do not need as much planning as permanent ones.

"They would not have permanent permission, only for as long as they are occupied by family ties. And because they are mobile, they can be moved on transport."

She also proposed that the cabins could only be sold at a cost relative to their purchase and cost of living rise.

"So they couldn't be sold at exorbitant prices as second homes," she said.

Molly said any conclusions from Exmoor Uprising meetings would be put "to the people" for consultation or petition.

ENPA chief executive Nigel Stone attended the meeting and said: "It was well attended and very well managed and I was pleased to have the opportunity to listen to the presentations from Mrs Groves and the other speakers, as well as being given the chance to say a few words myself.

"As well as being able to respond directly to questions asked by the audience, David Wyborn and I were able to talk to a number of people afterwards about their particular needs.

"Understandably, most questions arose about the need for housing for local people and I hope we succeeded in reassuring some people that the planning policies in the National Park mean they have a far greater chance of securing a new home than people in other rural areas

ENPA spokeswoman Clare O'Connor explained that present planning policies in Exmoor arose following wide consultation with residents in 2002.

"There was a consistent message that policies needed to overturn the difficulties that local people on relatively low incomes were having, in securing a home in their locality in the open market.

"The ENPA listened carefully to those concerns and now have planning policies that mean that any local person in housing need who is able to find a suitable plot of land within or near a village or hamlet will be able to build their own home. Also, the policies ensure that the new homes will be retained for local people."

She said 24 new homes have already been built in the National Park, with nine soon to be provided in Exford and a further 12 will come available through the Cutcombe Livestock market scheme.

Proposals for a further 40 new local homes in the National Park are in the development stage.

http://www.thisisnorthdevon.co.uk/housing/Use-log-cabins-ease-housing-shortage-Exmoor-says-group/article-669640-detail/article.html