IIT IS beyond question that there is an issue about a lack of homes and logical to draw the conclusion that empty houses and buildings could go a little way towards addressing that.

It is also good that campaigners such as those now occupying the old power station opposite Osney Island should press to keep the problem in the public eye.

But there are question marks about what squatting in the building for a few days will actually achieve.

When undertaking protests of this kind there should be a clearly defined objective.

And in this instance, without trying to knock the campaign, there is a concern about what will be achieved.

The plan is for some talks and then to leave after a few days.

The danger is that these talks will be, we fear, just preaching to the converted. If those result only in some grave nodding of heads then what has been the point?

It’s not as though the old power station realistically is an example of an empty, crumbling building that could be turned into affordable homes for families.

Hopefully, though, it may be the spark of a serious debate elsewhere because the issue needs tackling.

We have said many times that the city’s health depends on accommodating for all sectors of society.

We can’t have a city where we expect people to simply live out in the market towns and faithfully traipse into the city for their lower-paid jobs.