Call to prioritise locals for housing

Somerset councillors have clashed over the role of asylum seekers in a heated debate on the county’s housing crisis.

- Daniel Mumby Local democracy reporter

Conservative councillors put forward a motion at the annual full council meeting on May 21, highlighting the scale of Somerset's housing issues and the difficulty of securing low-cost homes for local families.

The motion urged the council to give local residents priority for homes “wherever legally and practically possible” and ensure local residents were not “disadvantaged” by government schemes to resettle asylum seekers.

But the motion failed dramatically to gain support, with Liberal Democrat and Labour councillors accusing the Tories of blaming refugees and asylum seekers for the county’s housing pressures.

The motion was put forward by Councillor Lucy Trimnell (Wincanton and Bruton) and seconded by Conservative group leader Councillor Diogo Rodrigues (Bridgwater East and Bawdrip).

The motion read: “This council recognises the severe and growing pressures on social housing and the private rental sector in Somerset.

“Existing demand is already being driven up by major infrastructure projects such as Hinkley Point C and the Gravity enterprise zone, which are attracting a large incoming workforce. We also acknowledge that Somerset is playing a role in national resettlement and asylum schemes, with government targets placing additional housing pressures on the county.

“For example, Somerset has been allocated 826 asylum accommodation bed-spaces - the third highest target in the South West - while also planning for arrivals under the Afghan resettlement programme.