Why all these empty properties in Welwyn Hatfield?

Published: 1:59 PM March 25, 2009 Updated: 7:59 PM November 3, 2020

SIR – I write in response MP Shapps latest attempt at headline grabbing. I refer to The Empty Property Rescue Scheme , WHT, March 4. Before he rolls out a national campaign let him look a lot closer to home. A couple of years ago I was with a friend

SIR - I write in response MP Shapps' latest attempt at headline grabbing. I refer to 'The Empty Property Rescue Scheme', WHT, March 4.

Before he rolls out a national campaign let him look a lot closer to home.

A couple of years ago I was with a friend who was discussing housing with Mr Shapps. My friend pointed out that our council had emptied Ley House, Long Ley, Panshanger, over a period of at least 15 years and 32 modern (late 70s) flats were, and still are, empty!

My mother's flat has been empty for nearly 10 years; all that's left in the building are a few items left by former residents.

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Besides being an appaling disservice to the local homeless, the loss to the community of rent and rates at even a modest �50 a week is in the order of �800,000.

Come on Mr Shapps, you look and talk well, let's see some action. Get past the stone-walling of the council. Others in the area may know of similar mis-use of community assets. They are not the council's property to neglect but to manage!