I’m passionate about housing, and I’ll make it a priority to press for improvements to neglected housing estates and make sure people can get access to affordable housing, be it to rent or buy.

I’m especially concerned about some of the estates in Northampton East. There’s been welcome recent housing renovations by Northampton Partnership Homes. However the longterm lack of investment in the area is all too visible in overgrown and damaged footpaths, derelict public space and lack of facilities.

At a recent meeting I organised between Residents’ Associations in the area and Northampton Partnership Homes, concerns were raised about:

• Tree management, with the problem of very tall and damaged trees lifting paving stones and sometimes falling onto gardens.

• Overgrown footpaths.

• Need for action to support local businesses in the area.

• Need for more consultation over the future of the area.

More investment is needed for a programme to make the public facilities, footpaths and open spaces fit for purpose, and to make the layout of the estates suitable for the 21st century. I will make it a priority to work with local residents to get the investment these estates need.

This focus on Northampton East is just part of Labour’s housing programme which commits to:

• Make sure affordable housing is affordable. Home ownership under the Tories has slumped to a 30 year low. Labour would link “affordable” house prices to local wages.

• Tackle homelessness and the scandal of rough sleeping. Under the Tories homelessness is up 50 per cent and rough sleeping has doubled.

• Improve private sector rented housing. Under the Tories young people in particular are being forced into poor quality, expensive private rented accommodation.

• Build more social housing. Under the Tories over 3,000 families in Northampton alone are on the waiting list for housing.

For more about my housing campaign, see my facebook page here.