NEW figures which show Hertfordshire is one of the most expensive in the country for teachers, nurses and police officers wanting to buy homes have come as no surprise, according to local politicians.

The survey of house prices shows a typical home in the area is far beyond the reach of even those earning the national average salary of £24,376.

The prospect of ever owning a home is even more bleak for key workers teachers, childcare staff and nurses.

A nurse falls more than £55,000 short of the £169,000 needed to meet the mortgage of an average house in the county.

It means Hertfordshire is the ninth worst place for low wage earners to live outside of London.

Labour county councillor Keith Crout said only the return of council housing would address the problem.

He said: "Services are finding it very difficult to cope with the workload. The money is there to pay the staff, but we can't attract them because they have nowhere to live."

Councillor Crout said private sector companies had the same problem, and said the low paid were all at risk.

"The way to combat it is affordable housing," he said.

According to Land Registry figures for July to September this year, the average cost of a home in Watford is £145,358.

Although lower than the county average, it is still more than £80,000 beyond the pocket of a childcare worker.

Fears have been expressed of a public sector meltdown unless something is done to remedy the situation.

A spokesman for Hertfordshire police said cost of houses was "a major, major problem" for recruiting and retaining staff.

To help address the matter, it has started a joint purchasing scheme with Ridge Hill housing association. This takes some of the burden from the officer, but allows them to get a foot on the property ladder and start saving equity.

But only 47 of these homes have been bought, and there are more than 2,000 officers in Hertfordshire.

In September, the Government announced a Starter Home Initiative, offering key workers a £10,000 interest free loan for a house deposit.

Councillor Crout said it was a step in the right direction. "But I think it needs to be a little bit bolder," he added.

Conservative county councillor Roy Clements said Watford was a victim of its own economic success, and because it was close to London.

A school governor, he said the Government would have to "throw serious money" if the problem was to be solved, a position backed by Liberal Democrat Derek Scudder.

But this is not happening. In September, the council criticised the Government after a £22 million bid to subsidise homes for a total of 700 teachers, social workers and firefighters, was rejected.

December 6, 2001 18:00