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| Parkside: Photographed in 2007 |
I wonder if anyone is looking for a garage in Houghton Regis?
Two years ago I was told in a Freedom of Information request that Central Bedfordshire Council owned 1,016 garages in Houghton Regis, of which 565 of them were boarded up, and apparently a waiting list of only 25.
Is that not an appalling waste of resources? The ones left derelict seem to attract vandalism, or graffiti, or worse.
A garage is certainly a safer place for a vehicle than being left out in the street for all and sundry to tamper with. It's not a great place to leave valuable items unless they are bolted down, or chained to the walls. And police are often repeating crime reduction warnings to make garages more secure, and to secure the contents left in a garage.
I've heard the argument that most of the garages were built for smaller cars, and are not designed for modern vehicles. Well, I used to park a Mondeo Estate in my council-sized garage, so I don't buy that argument, but I suppose it all depends on your driving skills. And some have been constructed in awkward corners.
Anyway, the main point: Too many unused garages. The Council should draw up plans to re-use these sites, or else refurbish and re-let the garages. If no one really wants them, then the space should be re-utilised to make affordable homes for local residents.
Garages Boarded up While Waiting List Exists - 8/8/2012
Central Bedfordshire Council have a waiting list of 162 for a council garage. In Houghton Regis the Council owns 482 garages, 273 are rented out, and 43 are boarded up. In Dunstable the Council owns 666 garages, 246 are rented out and 80 boarded up. Parkside Houghton Regis town councillor, Alan Winter, obtained the figures through a Freedom of Information request. Cllr Winter commented, "It's a great shame that in our town 43 are boarded up while a waiting list exists. I used to park a Mondeo in a garage the size of a typical estate garage, so I don't buy the argument that garages are too small. A garage is the best place for a car for security, and they should be used. I shall be asking the Central Bedfordshire Council to step up its efforts to bring the boarded garages back into use." 8 Aug 2012
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