With 686 chargeable long term empty properties in Conwy County, and residents struggling to find affordable homes, Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy, has undertaken a site meeting in Cwm Penmachno with officers from Conwy County Borough Council (CCBC) to discuss the empty home situation across the constituency.
During the site meeting, the Member and officers met with a number of residents and heard of the detrimental impact empties have on the community.
Commenting after her visit, Janet said:
“There are 22,140 long term empty properties in Wales. That’s 22,140 properties that could be homes for people struggling to rent or get on the housing ladder.
“Here in Conwy County, if we could succeed to bring the 686 long term empties back into use as homes, we could potentially reduce the number of people who are having to reside in temporary accommodation.
“I would like to commend the Local Authority officials who met with me. It was clear that they are using the levers at their disposal to try and bring homes back into use. In fact, we saw one property which, thanks to their determination, is now a home.
“A legal loophole enabling owners of empty properties to avoid council tax was brought to my attention. I have now written to the Minister responsible for Housing to highlight the situation”.
Gyda 686 o safleoedd gwag hirdymor trethadwy yn Sir Conwy, a phreswylwyr yn cael anhawster dod o hyd i gartrefi fforddiadwy, mae Janet Finch-Saunders, Aelod o’r Senedd dros Aberconwy, wedi cynnal cyfarfod safle yng Nghwm Penmachno gyda swyddogion o Gyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy i drafod y sefyllfa eiddo gwag ledled yr etholaeth.
Yn ystod y cyfarfod safle, cyfarfu’r Aelod a swyddogion â nifer o breswylwyr a chlywsant am effaith niweidiol adeiladau gwag ar y gymuned.
Gan roi sylwadau ar ôl ei hymweliad, dywedodd Janet:
“Mae 22,140 eiddo sydd wedi bod yn wag yn yr hirdymor yng Nghymru. Mae hynny’n 22,140 eiddo a allai fod yn gartrefi i bobl sy’n cael anhawster rhentu neu fynd ar yr ysgol dai.
“Yma yn sir Conwy, pe gallem ni ddod â 686 o safleoedd gwag hirdymor yn ôl i gael eu defnyddio fel cartrefi, gallem leihau nifer y bobl sy’n gorfod byw mewn llety dros dro.
“Hoffwn ganmol swyddogion yr Awdurdod Lleol a ddaeth i’m cyfarfod. Roedd hi’n amlwg eu bod nhw’n defnyddio pob ffordd sydd ar gael iddyn nhw i geisio defnyddio eu cartrefi eto. Yn wir, gwelsom un eiddo sydd bellach yn gartref, diolch i’w penderfyniad.
“Tynnwyd fy sylw at wendid cyfreithiol sy’n galluogi perchnogion safleoedd gwag i osgoi’r dreth gyngor. Rydw i nawr wedi ysgrifennu at y Gweinidog sy’n gyfrifol am Dai i gael esboniad o’r sefyllfa”.
DIWEDD
