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| Councils in 'ghost town' warning | Councils in 'ghost town' warning |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| England's High Streets are in danger of becoming "ghost towns" unless action is taken to fill empty shops hit by the recession, council leaders have warned. | England's High Streets are in danger of becoming "ghost towns" unless action is taken to fill empty shops hit by the recession, council leaders have warned. |
| The Local Government Association (LGA) says four out of five councils have reported an increase in empty premises. | The Local Government Association (LGA) says four out of five councils have reported an increase in empty premises. |
| It is calling for new powers to allow town halls to temporarily use shops as sites for community projects. | It is calling for new powers to allow town halls to temporarily use shops as sites for community projects. |
| Councils fear the derelict buildings could become hotspots for anti-social behaviour and cause further decline. | Councils fear the derelict buildings could become hotspots for anti-social behaviour and cause further decline. |
| 'Sad reflection' | 'Sad reflection' |
| The LGA wants to make it easier and cheaper to use the premises for libraries, youth clubs, training centres and bring-and-buy sales. | The LGA wants to make it easier and cheaper to use the premises for libraries, youth clubs, training centres and bring-and-buy sales. |
| It is asking for new powers to allow councils to take over shops once they have been vacant for three months. | It is asking for new powers to allow councils to take over shops once they have been vacant for three months. |
| Decisive action must be taken to stop our High Streets turning from clone towns into ghost towns Cllr Margaret Eaton, LGA chairman class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6134&edition=2">Send us your comments | |
| It is also calling for a cut in VAT from 15% to 5% on the refurbishment of empty shops to encourage new businesses. | It is also calling for a cut in VAT from 15% to 5% on the refurbishment of empty shops to encourage new businesses. |
| The LGA says the new powers would be a temporary measure for councils to use only during the recession. | The LGA says the new powers would be a temporary measure for councils to use only during the recession. |
| LGA chairman Cllr Margaret Eaton said rows of boarded-up shops were a "sad reflection" of the economic downturn. | LGA chairman Cllr Margaret Eaton said rows of boarded-up shops were a "sad reflection" of the economic downturn. |
| "Not only do they signal a local economy in decline, they also become a hotspot for anti-social behaviour and drag down the whole feel of an area," she said. | "Not only do they signal a local economy in decline, they also become a hotspot for anti-social behaviour and drag down the whole feel of an area," she said. |
| "Decisive action must be taken to stop our High Streets turning from clone towns into ghost towns. | "Decisive action must be taken to stop our High Streets turning from clone towns into ghost towns. |
| "The best option is for new or existing businesses to move into empty premises. Where new occupants for a shop can't be found, councils need to take the lead to stop our High Streets sliding into decline." | "The best option is for new or existing businesses to move into empty premises. Where new occupants for a shop can't be found, councils need to take the lead to stop our High Streets sliding into decline." |
| The town of Dursley in Gloucestershire is trying out the idea, with a parade of closed-down shops transformed into an gallery where artists can display their work. | The town of Dursley in Gloucestershire is trying out the idea, with a parade of closed-down shops transformed into an gallery where artists can display their work. |
| The LGA questionnaire was sent to all 399 leaders of local authorities in England on 26 January. | The LGA questionnaire was sent to all 399 leaders of local authorities in England on 26 January. |
| Of those, 129 responses were received to the question about increases in empty town centre properties. | Of those, 129 responses were received to the question about increases in empty town centre properties. |