Kingsholm & Wotton councillors, Isabel Brazil & Jeremy Hilton at Trident Life building
The regeneration of Gloucester has stalled and more must be done by the council to tackle the number of empty buildings in the city centre.
Liberal Democrat councillors have demanded that action is taken to kickstart the regeneration of dozens of empty buildings in Gloucester.
They include the former Argos store in Eastgate Street, the former jobcentre in Southgate Street and KC’s nightclub on Quay Street.
Former Argos store
Meanwhile the restoration of the Fleece Hotel has received a set back with a recent fire.
They are among 38 buildings on Gloucester City Council’s regeneration hit list and Lib Dem councillors have tabled a motion to be debated on 28th September to demand the ruling Conservative leadership draws up an action plan to tackle the problems.
Councillor Jeremy Hilton, leader of Gloucester Liberal Democrats, said: “The regeneration of Gloucester’s built environment is important to the Liberal Democrats.
“We are aware that the administration has a list of 38 sites that need regenerating.
“Progress is being made on a number of sites, but others seem to have stalled. The purpose of our motion is to put together tougher project management behind the list, with an action plan for every site on it, so that we can all scrutinise progress.
“It is all too easy to forget the hard to do sites, whilst concentrating on the easy wins.
“There are sites on the list where the Liberal Democrat group feel too little progress is being made and we want the cabinet member to focus some attention on them.
“We need to remember that the restoration and regeneration of the Fleece Hotel has been set back by the recent fire. We have seen fires in other listed buildings in the past where they are left to rot for too long.”
Councillor Hilton, who represents Kingsholm, said that in his ward the former Trident Life office on London Road has been empty for years.
“I understand that the owners have previously received a number of offers to buy it, but none have proceeded to a sale,” he said.
“It is slowly deteriorating and has recently been boarded up. I would like to see the council use compulsory purchase powers to acquire it for residential purposes.”
Lib Dem finance spokesman Councillor Declan Wilson, who represents Hucclecote, added: “Returning these buildings to commercial use would bring much-needed revenue into Gloucester, including rents and business rates.
“It would also help improve the range of businesses and services on offer to local residents and would also clear up what have become several unattractive grot spots and targets for anti-social behaviour in the centre of Gloucester.”
The motion, proposed by Councillor Hilton and seconded by Councillor Wilson, says: “This council agrees that one of its key objectives should be to oversee the regeneration of vacant and derelict sites within the council’s administrative area.
“Council notes that it has a list of 38 regeneration sites on its ‘regeneration hit list’.
“Council calls on the cabinet member for regeneration to prepare a report to refresh the hit list.
“The cabinet member should seek advice from councillors on which sites should be included in the new regeneration hit list.
“Finally, council requests that the new regeneration hit list include a cabinet approved action plan for each site, which can be monitored using the traffic light system.”