Dave Thompson MSP

Dave Thompson SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch was asked to deliver the keynote speech by Blair Allan the Chief Executive of the Association. The request followed Dave Thompson’s support for the joint petition on Lochaber Housing jointly promoted by Shelter Scotland and The Association.

Dave said, “I am delighted to extend my connection with this worthy Housing Association. They have done, and continue to do sterling work in providing affordable housing to the good folk of Lochaber." Dave’s speech will cover a number of housing topics, but one of particular note is the recent revelation in the Registrar General’s 2010 report that 1 in 5 homes in Lochaber are holiday homes.

Dave welcomes visitors from other areas as an important contribution in the local economy but he has sympathy with the view of Michael Foxley, that they should pay a higher level of Council Tax, which would help offset the negative effect of their holiday homes on local housing supply.

One way to deal with this may be through the Scottish Government’s proposal for a bill to allow Council’s to impose charges for homes that have lain empty for six months or longer.