44 Clitheroe Advertiser &Times, Thursday, June 28th, 2007


Crime stats search tool


IS your new neighbourhood safe as houses? When buying your new home it


is important to research a local area. Local amenities such as transport links, schools and supermarkets may be the obvi­ ous places to start, but would you think to check out the crime sta­ tistics? Leading property website www.whathouse.co.uk offers an enlightening crime statistics search tool. Using the search tool, users


can simply enter a place name or postcode to access statistics relating to six key crimes in any given area. The six key offences are violence against a person, sexual offences, robbery, burglary from dwellings, theft of a motor vehicle and theft from a vehicle. Each Police Force is divided


into a number of Basic Command Units (BCUs) and it is these units


'* which police each particular local neighbourhood. The details shown on the whathouse.co.uk site are taken from each of the local Basic Command Units (BCUs) and compared with both the average for the force policing that area and the national aver­ age. Sarah Speight, editor of


whathouse.co.uk, said: “It’s vital to research the local area before buying property. Crime statistics are just one aspect of the com­ prehensive local information we provide on the site, so that house hunters can gain a snapshot of a


■ neighbourhood. Our local information has


proved a very popular resource on whathouse.co.uk.” For details of local crime statis­


tics, plus a range of other local area information such as schools, council tax rates and leisure facil­ ities, and many other information- packed articles and guides on buying and selling property, visit www.whathouse.co.uk


www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk


Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified)


Cyclist Bill's charity trek


A CLITHEROE estate agent is taking part in the British Cyclo Sportive to raise funds for Multiple Sclerosis suf­ ferers. Mr Bill Honeywell (pictured) will join


around 5,000 riders on an epic 120-mile journey. Cyclists will travel from historic Green­


wich out of London and through the Kent countryside to finish in Canterbury, in the shadow of the city’s ancient cathedral. The Sportive, which is held on July 1st,


follows the route of stage one of the Tour de France, a week before the professionals do it. Mr Honeywell, a keen cyclist, is no


stranger to long distance bike rides. He has previously completed charity bike rides from Lands End to John O’Groats and part of the North Sea Cycle Route. All these challenges have raised thousands for char­ ity.


Though this event, Mr Honeywell is hop­


ing to raise £1,000 for the Multiple Sclero­ sis Society. Raising funds for this charity is particu­


larly important to Mr Honeywell as three of his friends suffer from the debilitating neu­ rological condition, which has a tendency to strike people in the prime of their life. Anyone who would like to sponsor him


can make a donation via the following web­ site http://www.justgiving.com/billhoney- wellcycling.


' 9 Also taking part in the event is fellow Clitheronian Richard Dugdale. He is no stranger to cycling long distances. Last year Mr Dugdale completed a five-week ride following the European section of the North Sea Cycle Route starting in Rotter­ dam, Holland, and finishing in Norway, (s)


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NATIONAL independent mortgage broker Mortgage Talk highlights a selection of the week's mortgage deals Short Term Fixed Rate


The Halifax is offering a fixed rate


deal until September 30th, 2009, at a rate of 5.49%, reverting to the standard variable rate for the remaining term of the mortgage, currently 7.5%. The overall cost for comparison is 7.5% APR. An early repayment charge is payable if you repay all or part of the mortgage during the fixed rate period. There is a valuation fee of £315 and an arrangement fee of £1,499. Long Term Fixed Rate


The Nationwide is offering a five year


fixed rate deal, at a rate of 5.68%, reverting to the standard variable rate for the remaining term of the mortgage, currently 6.74%. The overall cost for comparison is 6.7% APR. An early repayment charge is payable if you repay all or part of the mortgage dur­ ing the fixed rate period. There is a val­ uation fee of £295 and an arrangement fee of £499 that can be added to the loan.


Short Term Discount or Tracker


BM Solutions is offering a two year o j j i g G


tracker scheme at the Bank of England base rate minus 0.65%, equating to 4.85%, reverting to the standard vari­ able rate for the remaining term of the mortgage, currently 7.49%. The over­ all cost for comparison is 7.3% APR. An early repayment charge is payable if you repay all or part of this mortgage within two years. There is a valuation fee of £350 and an arrangement fee of £1,000 that can be added to the loan. Long Term Discount or Tracker


The Alliance and Leicester is offer­


ing a five year discounted scheme at 2.28% off its standard rate, equivalent to a current rate of 5.36%, reverting to the standard variable rate for the remaining term of the mortgage, cur­ rently 7.64%. The overall cost for com­ parison is 6.9% APR. There is an early redemption penalty upon repayment of this loan up to the end of the discount period. There is valuation fee of £280 and


an arrangement fee of £599 that can be added to the loan. Cashback


The Chelsea Building Society is


offering a mortgage fixed at 7.14% until August 1st, 2012, with a 6% cash­


back on completion. The overall cost for comparison is 7.7% APR. There is a requirement to repay the


cashback on early repayment of the loan within the fixed rate period. There is a free valuation and free legal work, but an arrangement fee of £845 that can be added to the loan. Buy to Let


BM Solutions is offering a two year


tracker buy to let deal at the Bank of England base rate minus 0.26%, equating to 5.24%, reverting to their standard variable rate, currently 7.5%, at the end of the period. The overall cost for comparison is


7.4% APR. An early repayment charge is payable if you repay all or part of this mortgage during the first two years of the loan. There is a valuation fee of £350,


while the arrangement fee of £799 can be added to the loan. There is no guarantee that it will be


possible to arrange continuous letting of the property nor that the rental income will be sufficient to meet the cost of the mortgage. Remortgage


For those looking to remortgage, the Bank of Scotland is offering a tracker


until June 30th, 2009 at the base rate plus 0.24%, currently 5.74%, reverting to the standard variable rate of 7.25% for the remaining term of the mortgage. The overall cost for comparison is 7.2% APR. An early repayment charge is payable if you repay all or part of this mortgage during the fixed rate period. This mortgage offers a free valuation, free legal work and no arrangement fee. Your existing lender may impose penalties if you switch your mortgage to a new lender. Lifetime Tracker


The Norwich and Peterborough is


offering a lifetime tracker deal at the Bank of England base rate plus 0.24% for the full term of the loan, currently equating to 5.74%. The overall cost for comparison is


6.0%. There is no early repayment charge on this loan, but there is a valu­ ation fee of £220 and an arrangement fee of £499, which can be added to the mortgage.


100% Mortgage Mortgage Express is offering a fixed


rate deal at 5.99% until October 31st, 2009, reverting to the standard variable rate for the remaining term of the mort­ gage, currently 7.5%.


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Tackle the rural < homes shortage


OUR northern countryside will become a “theme park for the rich” unless the Govern­ ment, local councils and other public bodies tackle the rural housing shortage, the Nation- , al Housing Federation has warned. At a conference marking one year since Eli­


nor Goodman's landmark Affordable Rural Housing Commission (ARHC) report, the Federation stated that not enough progress had been made on the issue. More people are pursuing an idyllic coun- j


tryside life or are investing in a second home. Local people are forced to move out of vil­ lages that are no longer affordable. Second homers do not contribute significantly to the local economy, meaning essential services such as local shops, public transport and health care suffer. New analysis from the Federation shows


that the average house price in England is now 8.3 times average salaries. But in many attractive rural areas average house prices are up to and, in some cases, more than 10 times average local earnings, including Rib- ble Valley and neighbouring Craven. The ARHC gave a blueprint for solving the


rural housing crisis last year. The Government has made some progress on planning reform, but more needs to be done to release surplus public land for affordable housing. Too much is lying derelict or being sold off to the high­ est bidder when it could be used for urgently needed homes. Further ARHC recommendations, including


restricting the Right to Buy inrural areas and making it easier to bring empty properties back into use, have not been acted upon.


Head of North, said: 'The housing shortage is turning many parts of the North into a theme park for the rich. As havens for commuters and second


home owners, some villages are becoming (y winter 'ghost towns' and summer 'theme parks' with over 50% holiday homes. Key services are suffering and young peo­


ple are forced to move away from the area where they grew up. “Housing associations can address the cri­


sis but need support from the Government and local councils.


“Northern villages and market towns should


be vibrant and sustainable places to live - not theme parks for the wealthy."


- m < > The overall cost for comparison is


7.5% APR. An early repayment charge is payable if you repay all or part of this mortgage during the discount period. There is no valuation fee, but an arrangement fee of £1,299 that can be added to the mortgage.


Capped Rate Mortgage BM Solutions is also offering a track­


er mortgage at a current rate of 5.34%, capped for three years to a maximum rate of 6.09%, reverting to the standard variable rate for the remaining term of the mortgage, currently 7.49%. The


overall cost for comparison is 7.4% APR. An early repayment charge is payable if you repay all or part of this


mortgage during the capped rate peri­ od.


There is a valuation fee of £365, and


an arrangement fee of £699 that can be added to the loan.


Figures based on £150,000 pur­


chase price or value and £100,000 repayment mortgage over 25 years. All figures are subject to revision, but cur­ rent at time of going to press.


® Your home may be repossessed if


you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.


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mm | H | " A r Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified) www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, Thursday, June 28th, 2007 45


What homes deal holds for you I


I m SS5- to Cojacfl tenants


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A NEW shop dedicated to answering queries about the proposed transfer of council housing stock to Ribble Valley Homes has opened in Clitheroe. On Tuesday, the Mayor of the Ribble Valley, Coun. Doreen Taylor, cut the ribbon to declare the Your Home, Your Future, Your Choice Shop, in King Lane, officially open. The aim of the new advice centre is to give council ten­ ants the chance find out more about proposals, which poten­ tially could unlock a multi-mil- lion pound investment pro­ gramme for their homes. Every tenant will have the opportunity to call into the shop, talk to staff about the transfer and find out what it will mean for their homes and estates. Coun. Stuart Hirst, chairman of Ribble Valley Council s Housing Committee, said: "We have said throughout this process that we would give tenants as many opportunities as possible to find out about the transfer proposal. This shop is an excellent way of let­ ting tenants find out what transfer is about and what benefits it could bring to their homes. Tony Dunne, the group direc­ tor of investment for Vicinity, the parent company of Ribble


Valley Homes, said: “The idea is to ensure tenants get mod­ ern, efficient homes, efficient service and delivery. It would bring private finance resources to invest in homes, which cannot be done through the current arrangements.” Transferring the housing stock to the Ribble Valley Homes organisation would bring investment of £65m. to homes and services over the next three decades. Ribble Valley Council’s 1,000- plus tenants are being asked to decide the future of their homes and consultation is already under way. Later in the year, they will be asked if they want the housing stock to be transferred away from council ownership. 9 The shop will be open on Tuesdays and Fridays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. ® Tenants can also get further information by ringing the free Housing Stock Transfer line on 0800 1952422. Pictured at the opening are Ribble Valley Mayor Coun. Doreen Taylor. Ribble Valley Council chief executive Mr David Morris, housing services manager Christine Grimshaw and tenant Laura Quinton. (B260607/3)


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