Opposition to a Welsh Liberal Democrat Motion put before Powys County Council this week, which called on the Council’s ruling Independent/Conservative Cabinet to use legal powers it currently doesn’t use to bring long-empty dwellings back in to use, has been described as ‘very regrettable’ by Brecon & Radnorshire’s AM, Kirsty Williams.

In a debate at the Council’s meeting on Thursday the Welsh Lib Dem Group called on the council use Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMOs) to help bring dwellings that have been empty for more than two years back in to use to be made available to house local residents and families in need of accommodation.

Cabinet members opposed the motion and were supported by their non-cabinet council colleagues to defeat the motion.

Currently there are over 1800 empty dwellings in Powys. Unlike the vast majority of councils in the UK, Powys County Council does not publish figures showing the number of years dwellings have been empty.

Commenting on the result, Kirsty Williams AM said, “The attitude of the ruling groups on the council is highly regrettable. I receive a lot of enquiries from constituents desperately in need of accommodation and we know that there is a great need for more affordable housing of all types in Powys.

"EDMOs are one of the tools available to councils to address this problem and Powys should use them.”

Welsh Lib Dem Group leader on the Council, James Gibson-Watt added, “My colleague, Cllr Jackie Charlton, has done invaluable work researching this issue and we alerted the cabinet and council to a legal power it has to help bring a lot of currently empty dwellings back in to use.

"This could potentially meet a lot of people’s housing needs and reduce the demand for more social housing, which the council is struggling to meet. The cabinet has rejected that option, which calls in to question its commitment to tackling this major issue.”