Eyesores are a town blight
7:20am Thursday 17th February 2011
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SOMETHING desperately needs to be done about Penarth’s vacant property problem.
Bridgeman Road has been a victim of this for years and it is shocking that nothing has been done about it.
These houses leading towards Penarth Pier are beautiful listed Victorian buildings that would once have been an attraction on the walk down towards the promenade, but instead have been left to rot
and have become an eyesore.
This of course isn’t a problem exclusive to Penarth; there are about 840,000 empty homes in the UK.
There are different problems facing different empty properties such as squatting, arson, vandalism, fly-tipping and, as in Penarth, the loss of listed buildings to modern housing developments.
It is also estimated that on average a property next to an empty house sells for 18 per cent less than one that is occupied.
Westminster’s efforts to provide financial incentives to local authorities and owners alike to refurbish properties have not gone far enough.
I would encourage the government to legislate for compulsory acquisition of vacant properties which are obviously being held for capital gain.
This would not only preserve the condition of listed buildings being left to deteriorate but also go a long way to ease the housing shortage.
Liz Musa Plaid Cymru candidate – Cardiff South Penarth
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