LOCAL councils will be urged to declare a housing crisis in West Somerset and tackle the lack of affordable accommodation at a special general meeting of the West Somerset Community Land Trust on October 28.

The meeting, to which councillors and residents are invited, will highlight the problems many people in the area are experiencing in finding affordable housing.

“This is having profound consequences,” said trust chair Margaret Smith. “Our health, social care and education services cannot recruit key workers because they are unable to find housing they can afford, whether to buy or rent. Consequently, care-home staff levels are below acceptable levels. Many other employers are experiencing similar problems.”

She said that recent cases included a teacher who had to decline an appointment because he could not find a home he could afford and a prospective council employee could not take up a management level post for the same reason. There were numerous other examples and people were moving out of the area, contributing to the break-up of communities and support networks.

The trust claimed that what was rapidly becoming a serious housing crisis was caused by a shortage of viable housing sites, and rising house prices which have put house buying out of reach for those on low or even average incomes, notably key workers. There was also a limited supply of social, housing some of which is now in the private rental market due to Right to Buy.

Margaret Smith added: ”The number of long term privately rented homes has declined as landlords have converted their properties to more profitable holiday or Airbnb lets. The latter has contributed to a 40% increase in holiday lets over the past three years with many of the properties being exempt from business tax causing loss of income to local authorities.

“West Somerset is not alone in experiencing these problems which are most acute in popular tourist areas. Two Devon councils - South Hams and North Devon - have already declared a housing crisis and Cornwall is expected to follow suit shortly. The question we need to consider as a matter of urgency is: should our councils also declare a housing crisis and what action should be taken?”

The meeting on October 28 is from 7 to 8.30pm at Minehead Community Hall, Irnham Road.