Jan Higgins wrote:What tosh David, maybe you are happy to see run down properties, I am not. No one is talking about dirty windows but buildings in a poor state of repair.
Councils already have the power to force owners to look after their run down properties and if they refuse in some cases can institute compulsory purchase orders.
Whether I'm happy to see run down properties or not isn't the question, the definition of "poor state of repair" is open to interpretation. The DTIZ site, owned by DDC, has been a derelict eyesore for years, contributing to stagnant commercial property prices in the area.
Councils need to sort themselves out before they start bullying landlords - who would buy property in central Dover after decades of neglect?