THREE champions of affordable housing in South Lakeland and Eden have been given a chance to air their views to the Prince of Wales.

Anne Hall, of Coniston Housing Group, Paul Davies, chief executive of Eden Housing and Judith Derbyshire, manager of Cumbria Rural Housing Trust, were among 55 delegates to meet Prince Charles at a Clarence House reception in London last Thursday.

The gathering was arranged as part of the prince’s Affordable Rural Housing Initiative, which promotes policies aimed at preventing the break up of traditional village communities.

Mrs Hall said: “The prince showed how grounded he is and how he understands rural housing issues. He said it was all right to have new people moving to rural areas as long as the children from existing families also had an opportunity to remain in their longstanding communities. His idea is that you then get a good community mix.

“He showed he was really listening to want people are saying about affordable housing. It was a very exciting day and I felt honoured to be there.”