Graffiti protest over luxury second homes
THE bitter division between locals desperate to set up home in Westcountry communities, and wealthy second home-owners boiled over into direct action at the weekend.
Rows between factions in Devon and Cornwall villages have been publicly played out in recent weeks.
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Contractors remove the slogans from the luxury homes in 'Ghost Village' Worth Matravers, Dorset
A modern jetty and access road at Helford, near Helston, to help local fishermen, are now in jeopardy after the High Court quashed planning permission following legal action by second home-owners.
A successful bid to build affordable housing in the holiday home enclave of East Portlemouth, near Salcombe in the South Hams, was also cast as an "us and them" battle.
Now, a luxury housing development in a Dorset seaside village dominated by second homes has been vandalised on the eve of the estate agent's open day. Protesters daubed slogans like "No More 2nd Homes", "Greed" and "Go Away" on walls and driveways of exclusive new properties in the picture-postcard village of Worth Matravers.
Dubbed the Ghost Village, with nearly 60 per cent of its 174 properties being holiday homes, the lack of local trade led to the closure of the craft shop and cafe, which was sold to developers. They sparked anger by turning it into a "high-quality" courtyard development, with prices starting at £465,000.
Vandals used the cover of darkness and white paint to graffiti the homes with two-feet high slogans. Contractors called in by the estate agent could be seen jet-washing them off before prospective buyers arrived on Saturday.
One villager, who did not want to be named, said: "I don't know who did it, but it does reflect the resentment and ill-feeling in the village.
"People were angry when we lost the craft shop and cafe because we all knew it would be turned into houses. And we all knew they weren't going to be affordable houses for young local people.
"Nearly £500,000 for a three-bed house? People living here can't afford £50,000 for the deposit.
"No doubt they will be bought by wealthy people from London who will only be here at weekends and in the summer."
Joyce Meates, chairman of Worth Matravers Parish Council, said: "I know the feelings of villagers have run strong over this, and still do, but I can't condone behaviour like this.
"It is obvious there is a core of people that feel strongly about this, but I don't think they need to go to this extent.
"Ever since the homes were given planning permission, there has been strong feeling and opposition against this development. We had protest meetings, a petition and letters to Purbeck council because we didn't want to lose the craft centre and cafe. These new properties are quite small but very expensive and they are just the sort of houses driving young local people out of the area. There is no way locals can afford them."
Outsiders have long been drawn to the area, with its stunning cliff-top location. But interest has risen sharply since Britain's Jurassic Coast was made a World Heritage Site in 2001.
To combat the second homes issue, locals formed the Worth Matravers Community Property Trust and bought a plot of land in the village with a view to building affordable homes.
A spokesman for estate agent Corben and Son said they were aware of the damage but could not comment until they had seen it.
6 Comments
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by B Nancemellin, St Levan
Tuesday, March 17 2009, 8:09AM
“I am Cornish, but I do feel that there is a place for second homes and holiday homes because they do bring significant economic benefits to the county. The problem is that the balance is not right because government policies over the years have created a situation whereby there is proportionately less social housing available than previously. There is an urgent need to provide affodable homes, both for sale and to rent, to local people in the areas where they are required, by which i mean where local people live and work. This is an issue for the planners and both central and local government and needs to be sorted out. Blaming second home owners is a little unfair because they are not the cause of the problem.”
by Cyanotic, St. Ives
Monday, March 16 2009, 4:10PM
“Unfortunately when these affordable homes come to be sold on they are bought up by outsiders. All such houses and council house sales should be covenanted allowing the sale of them only to local people.”
by Jay, Devon
Monday, March 16 2009, 3:47PM
“Vandals? Protesters surely.”
by Marie, North Devon
Monday, March 16 2009, 1:32PM
“We have the same issues in North Devon. I can't afford to buy a home here because I'm outpriced; I'm worried. I see more and more second homes, many of which being changed beyond reognition with extreme security lighting, security barriers etc. I would like to see a shift in parish and district councils supporting the development and sustainability of our local communities rather than 'us' sustaining holiday/entertainment industry during the summer months for the holiday makers and second home owners. As in many cases, there will come a time when they too will no longer find enjoyment in living here as it too will become filled with the people they were trying to get away from in the first place.”
by Neil, Plymouth
Monday, March 16 2009, 12:59PM
“I agree with Simon Wright. Most second-home owners have neither the interest nor the commitment to the area, other than, it seems from recent events, preventing local people from living near to the houses they occupy for only a few days a year.”