Plaid Cymru AM Nerys Evans and Tenby North Clr. Mike Williams, yesterday (Thursday) welcomed measures introduced by the Plaid Deputy Minister for housing, Jocelyn Davies, which will increase the availability of affordable housing in rural Wales. The Plaid AM for Mid and west Wales said that Plaid has long campaigned for more affordable housing, particularly in rural areas, and that the party has used its position in the One Wales government to take action on this. The measures announced by Jocelyn Davies include an expansion of the successful 'Rural Enabler' pilot scheme, funds to develop the concept of 'community land trusts' and a new grant scheme to help first time buyers to make their homes more energy efficient. Nerys Evans AM commented: "Plaid Cymru has long argued that the shortage of affordable housing to rent or buy is one of the biggest barriers to community cohesion. In the 2007 elections, Plaid Cymru proposed a number of measures to tackle this problem. We ensured that these ideas were incorporated into the One Wales agreement when we went into government. "The announcements by the Plaid deputy Minister for housing, Jocelyn Davies, demonstrate her clear recognition of the problem facing our rural communities and the measures to tackle it. "The measures that will be implemented by the Plaid-driven government will work to ensure a local and sustainable approach, and will contribute to making a difference to people living in our rural communities." Clr. Mike Williams added: "I welcome this important development as part of the response to creating the conditions for vibrant and sustainable rural communities. "We must intervene and work together - National and Local Government - to provide opportunities for young families in particular to live and work in rural Wales. "Failure to do so will only serve to accelerate the movement away from our rural communities by young people, which will, in turn, have a detrimental effect on the Welsh language."
