NO COUNTY FOR YOUNG MEN - ÖPIK

11.21.23am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 4th Jun 2008

A Joseph Rowntree Report released today shows that average rural housing in Wales costs 5 times that of the average rural income. The report recommends three times more properties are needed for rural Wales alone.

Lembit Öpik, Liberal Democrat Housing Spokesperson and MP for Montgomeryshire, commented today:

"The cost of housing is pricing young people out of the housing market in rural areas, with many more being forced into temporary accommodation or into urban areas.

"On top of everything else hitting the economy right now, the last thing we need is house prices turning Powys into a Ghost County.

"We are being hit from all sides by this economic downturn and the Government must step in to bring empty properties back into use as a matter of urgency."

Ends/diwedd

Notes to editor:

According to the report there are 18,000 vacant properties in rural Wales.

For more information about the report please visit:

http://www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/housing/2242.asp