Call for locals to have social housing priority

THE leader of Northumberland Labour has said the way social housing in the county is allocated needs to be fairer to protect local people.

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Coun Scott Dickinson claimed the current system fails to take local connections into account.

There is currently high demand for social housing in the county, but Coun Dickinson believes that the lack of a local allocation policy means people who live and work in communities all their lives are overlooked when suitable housing becomes available.

The Conservative-led administration at County Hall announced a review of the social housing system in January, with a report expected back next month.