She was "live" about a half hour ago, speaking on the subject of second homes, following the Government's rejection of MP Matthew Taylor's recommendation to trial a scheme in which planning laws would stop rural homes being turned into second homes. Now, the Rat and Mouse has never played a part in any of the shrill attacks on Allsopp we see in the property press. In fact, we can't help liking her. It was hard, however, to accept her argument, this morning, that the responsibility for keeping properties within a rural community lies with the individual vendors. If somebody needs to move - especially at a time like this - it seems naive to suggest that they're going to accept a decent offer only if it's from somebody who can guarantee they'll live full-time in the property. It doesn't strike us as constructive, either, to lay the blame for any failure in this regard with the local community. That sounds like a recipe for bullying, conflict, the kind unpleasantness we saw in rural Wales during the 1970s. For an alternative take on the issue, check this out in the Telegraph, which poses the pressing question... who can afford the hassle of a second home anyway?

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