Amid all the doom and gloom about housing in the Westcountry it is good to be able to report some positive news. And the opening of 21 affordable homes for rent, built on land provided free by Cornwall Council in a part of the Westcountry where commercial rents and the cost of buying are out of the league of many local people, is certainly very welcome.

While many people wring their hands at the problem of second homes and the continuing high cost of property some organisations, like the Cornwall Rural Housing Association, are quietly getting on with the business of providing affordable places to live.

Those just opened by Cornwall councillor Mark Kaczmarek at Quarry View, Delabole, represent the 46th development by the CRHA, the vast majority to house local people.

The words of one of the first tenants, mother of five Abi Blanchard, sum up all that is positive about this initiative. "I still can't believe I am here," she said. "I was born and bred in Delabole." Born and bred but, until now, with little hope of continuing to live in the village until these homes were built. Thank goodness that has changed.