Bulldog Security and Affordable Village Housing

Constance on guard duty

It may be a case of "shutting the stable door" but I have become just a little paranoid over security since Chris' motorbike was pinched by a low life joy rider. The cottage is secure, and anyone "sneaking" up to the back door will have the full force of an extremely unforgiving bulldog to cope with if any nefarious goings on are the order of the day.
The Welsh terriers are gentle souls with strangers but Bulldogs and Scottish terriers are terribly territorial if they need to be, and once locked on to an intruder, can inflict some considerable damage ( here here!)
So if the scroat who stole Chris' bike is actually reading this ( and I suspect they may have some trouble doing so, as occasionally I can use BIG LONG WORDS)...well then you have been warned...if you ever return then.you will be savaged by several house dogs and then would have to face the wrath of a very pissed off and hypertensive gay queen with murderous intent...
I don't think your chances of survival would be very high.


Anyhow, I have been giving the subject of affordable housing in rural settings a big think this week. A year or so ago a survey was passed around the village to ascertain if there was a local need for an affordable house project to be implemented. The project caused some unhappiness as it proposed the building of a small estate "outside" of the village envelope. There were some that said it was a good idea , there were many that were against it (fearful of where the development may lead) and although I am against any building inside greenbelt land, some sort of initiative that may utilise derelict and unused village dwellings for affordable housing for local people in need of a step on the property ladder, could, I thought be a way forward.


As it has turned out, I have been informed today by our local counsellor, that the original survey quite clearly stated that there was no local need for cheaper housing on a scale outlined ( there being several low priced properties in the village) , and that no building work of any sort will be implemented on the land "outside" of the village........
The ground work of needed for two surveys as well as the planning of the small estate was considerable and I suspect costly  (yes another was sent out recently in what looks like a rather stupid mistake) ...and all I keep thinking of  is why didn't the local housing association just buy the two derelict properties in the centre of the village..do them up into 4 flats and offer them to local families at a subsidised rate rather then to embark on a huge and as we know now, ineffectual project?
The village would have supported and welcomed this smaller initiative I am sure. No backs would have be put out and a few families would have been housed as the local need would have been assessed albeit in a more manageable way.
But that, I guess, is just common sense.....