'˜We want action, and we want action now'
Councillors discussed the problem during their monthly meeting and agreed to compile a list of empty properties and any others needing attention.
Their plan is to then send this list to West Lindsey District Council, pushing for action to encourage owners to bring back buildings into use.
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Hide AdCoun Mike Galligan told the meeting: “Caistor’s main problem at the moment is derelict buildings.
“We want action, we want action now.”
Unlike the town council, the district council has details of building ownership.
One of the town’s most notable empty buildings is the Grade Two listed Westgate House in Plough Hill, which has been derelict for many years.
Coun Martin Sizer told the meeting that some of the town’s ‘iconic buildings’ were in a bad state.
He said: “That will continue unless something is done now.”
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Hide AdCoun Alan Caine said: “It’s really a case of finding new ways of getting these buildings back into use, commercially.”
Speaking during a public forum part of the meeting, resident Cliff Rust said he believed that unless the ‘state’ of these building was ‘pointed out’ then nothing would be done to tackle them.
He said: “Something really does need doing now.”
But Coun Angela Clark said the problem has been on the agenda for many years.
She said: “When I was on the council in 2003/4 this was on the agenda then.
“It’s been going on quite a long while.”
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Hide AdAs well as contacting the district council, Coun Galligan questioned whether it would be possible to get in touch with MP Sir Edward Leigh and Lincolnshire County Council leader Martin Hill asking them to ‘drive this forward’.
He said: “Otherwise we’ll be here in five years.”
The meeting was held in the Arts Centre at Caistor Town Hall.
It took place on Thursday, December 10.