A WEEK of events to address the need for affordable housing in the area is concluding today, with several people having signed up to support the cause.

Bridport Housing Week kicked off on Thursday, October 21 with a discussion in Bridport Town Hall on 'tackling Bridport's housing crisis through community-led solutions'.

The programme of events, taking place throughout the week until Saturday, October 30, is designed to identify and set-in-motion community led solutions to provide energy efficient and genuinely affordable homes.

The project is led by Bridport Town Council, Raise the Roof, Wessex Community Assets and Bridport Area Community Housing (BACH) - a recently established not-for-profit organisation which aims to provide affordable homes for local people.

The town hall discussion on Thursday was chaired by David Dixon, Bridport Town Council's project manager and community initiatives officer, and included a talk by Amanda Streatfeild, from Symene Community Land Trust on a successful affordable housing project completed at Edwards Close, near Bridport Medical Centre, six years ago and a report from Lin Scrannage about the Bridport Cohousing's project Hazelmead, currently under construction in North Allington.

Melissa Mean, director of the Knowle West Media & Community Centre in Bristol described an innovative and creative housing project she has overseen in recent years called ‘We Can Make’.

Following the talks, the attendees were invited to discuss possible solutions and to use ‘sticky notes’ on a large map of Bridport to identify any areas of the town and surrounding area which could be explored for adopting similar solutions.

An invitation to join BACH was then extended, with membership secretary, Robert Tigg, reporting that several new members had signed up by the end of the evening.

There will be further opportunities for identifying potential sites and more at the Housing Fair this Saturday, October 30 between 10am and 2pm in Bridport Town Hall. A range of community-led and commercial organisations with an affordable housing agenda will set up their stalls to be available to answer questions and discuss problems and solutions.

There will also be three workshops underpinning Bridport Town Council’s Energy Efficiency Campaign, with each workshop aimed at lowering household energy bills in the WI Hall on North Street.

For more information about events, membership or to suggest sites, please visit www.BridportACH.org.uk