The Barbecue;
Paul panicked somewhat on the day as the heavens opened up, (he is the events convener) but a meeting in the pub's car park, a generous offer by Rosina and Paul Bell and the world righted itself. Living in a village when you are a recent incomer can be difficult adjusting to those whose family have lived here for generations. Yet the heart of the village still beats strong, and since Paul has started an email service, it is starting to work. The two families who fell out over the wind turbine incident still sit at opposite ends of the tables, yet both contribute so much to the welfare of the village. We talk of 'both ends' of the village, because there seems a little middle enclave of newcomers, some who do not attend.
I was aghast/cross when someone told me that the person who owned one holiday cottage in the village had about 8 other houses, another person the same in a village called Wombleton. So where are we housing our young who live in the district? I can only hope that the the government sorts this one and comes down heavily on such people in the way of taxes, the same of course goes to those 'buy to let' houses. Either we must have a system where people own their houses, or a system where people pay a decent rent and are protected in the terms of their renting.
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| Come on let's dance! flashing shoe girl |
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| Jill selling raffle tickets, we all managed to get our bottles of wine back. |
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| New and old faces |
I'm pleased to hear the event went ahead even if it was in a slightly different format. Community spirit is so important.
ReplyDeleteArilx
It was cold after all that hot weather Aril!
DeleteLooks a good event in a very friendly village Thelma. The village where we farmed is almost all newcomers (I have lived there since 1991 and have now only moved a mile out of it) - my husband was one of about fourteen people left whe were actually born there. But there is a good community spirit with most people joining in. We have monthly coffee mornings and have just had an open gardens and scarecrow day. As with your village by the sound of it, there are a few sworn enemies who haven't spoken for generations.
ReplyDeleteI suspect what was left of 'old England' is dying slowly, people retiring and moving out of the suburbs to the country, it alters the social mix and puts an extra burden on the social services.
Deletesometimes when an upheaval happens in history we have to wait the consequences, watching something on tv yesterday about history, the commentator mentioned Henry Vlll. He changed the religion of this country but also threw down the great monastic houses and gave their lands away to his entrepreunurial? friends, he made a great change and altered history.
If somebody didn't buy buy-to-let houses there would be nowhere for those who want to rent to live. I am well taxed and George Osborne you will be pleased to know put up the stamp-duty paid on houses bought to let. Tenants are well protected with rights of occupancy and I for one do not over-charge, in fact on a three bed-roomed house I rent out the tenant who left recently told me I wasn't charging enough and therefore in telling her friend the house was empty she had not mentioned the rent in case I wanted to put it up. I didn't. I considered it was fair and reasonable. Many private landlords such as myself, around here at least, are remarkably fair on people. It is a shame we all get tarred with the same brush as being greedy.
ReplyDeleteAll I was saying Rachel, that owning several houses in one small village is hardly fair on the community. I did not expect you to take it personally but I do write what I think, as you do. Housing the young is important, it was the baby boomers who were sitting on expensive housing that started the gold rush in property, and there have been losers. In actual fact I was pointing the finger specifically at holiday homes which only get let for a small amount of time. True what I do see round here, is that farms that have invested in building another home also house their parents and other members of the family within the complex. There is good and bad, but I believe quite sincerely that we should offer our young the security of a house over their heads'
DeleteEdit; It is a socialist view Rachel, you will have to forgive ;)
DeleteI didn't take it personally. I was merely pointing out that buying to let provides a service. I was not talking of holiday homes.
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