Arran and its houses

The Guardian ran a full page yesterday about Arran and its houses, more particularly all the houses needed to house all the people who service the thriving holiday and retirement homes industry, an industry which is soaking up a big chunk of what housing there is. A problem which those familiar with holiday areas nearer home - such as big chunks of Devon and Cornwall - will recognise.

My first thought was for council houses. If the Tories under Thatcher had not forced councils to sell off their stocks of council houses, there might now be rather more of them than there actually are to be let to deserving locals. And to the extent that was practical and reasonable, funded by taxation of said holiday and retirement homes industry.

Second thought was that I had no idea how much of what council housing departments used to do has been taken over by housing associations. Is the volume up or down? Is the demand up or down?

Third thought was that there is probably not much other industry in a place like Arran. They need the money that all those holiday makers and retirees are bringing in.

I suppose the answer to this sort of problem in the US, where council houses are for commies, is to say let them live in trailers, for which they do have plenty of space. A solution to which some of the good people of Arran do appear to have come to. A solution which has also cropped up in early evening ITV3, in the form of run down caravan parks in seaside areas being colonised by various forms of low life.

While in Arran, something called the Arran Economic Group is making a start.