THE LIB DEM group on Dorset Council say they will look to use land the authority owns to build genuine affordable housing if the party has a majority after the May election.

The comments come from Lib Dem leader Cllr Nick Ireland after Independent Dorchester councillor Les Fry highlighted the sale of a site off Garfield Avenue for continued use as garages – rather than offering it to the Town Council and Dorchester Community Land Trust which had asked to take it on to use for affordable housing for local people.

Cllr Fry told a town council meeting in Monday evening he had now asked Dorset Council to review the decision to sell the site for garaging, rather than community housing.

Cllr Ireland said that, if the basis of the site disposal is correct, which has not been denied by Dorset Council, it shows that the authority's newly published Housing Strategy is not fit for purpose.

The Lib Dem group leader points out that with around 6,000 on the council housing waiting list, the demand for 'general need' social housing in the county continues to far outstrip supply.

He says that among the council's 1,500 listed assets, worth around £500million, many sites are suitable for housing and could be passed to Registered Providers (Housing Associations) or Community Land Trusts (CLTs) to be developed for 'affordable' housing for local people.

Cllr Ireland said: "Dorset Council is in a prime position to use its assets to help the supply of social housing but the current leadership is loath to do so; indeed, whilst the council is in fact a Registered Provider, it describes itself as 'non-stock' holding.

"A Liberal Democrat led Dorset Council after the May elections will look to use land we own to build genuine affordable housing in partnership with Registered Providers or through Homes Dorset," he said.

The county's housing problems continue to be well documented with professionals, such as dentists, claiming they can no longer afford to buy on the open market in parts of rural Dorset, according to a study.

The cost of buying, or renting, is also listed as a dis-incentive for working in Dorset for others in the public sector, including nursing, care staff and police ad fire officers.

A recent full Dorset Council meeting witnessed a surprise move from a Conservative back-bencher, Preston and Littlemoor councillor Louie O'Leary, calling for a return to the council once again providing its own homes – most of the previous council stock now privately owned, or in the hands individuals.

Cllr O'Leary said that housing associations had not served the county well with some now selling off older properties which they considered too expensive to bring up to modern standards, with little effort then made to replace social housing homes.

His call won cross-party backing in the council chamber, including from a handful of fellow Conservatives, although is unlikely to become policy.