ARGYLL

and Bute Council has this week said it will likely scrap the 10 per cent discount it currently offers second home owners in the region.

The move will no doubt be a blow to many as there are a lot of second homes in the area – former family homes that are now used only for families returning to the region for holidays, or properties bought as holiday lets.

However, the move is estimated to raise £ 380,000 for affordable housing in the region and that has to be a good thing. We need to offer decent, affordable homes to allow us to attract more young families to the region and to ensure those young people who want to stay can do so.

With Scottish Government funding expected to be cut and the council’s budget set to be under even more pressure, hard decisions need to be made, but this may be one small solution that will help the council provide new homes in Argyll.