BUILDINGS in Stansted Mountfitchet which are left empty and falling into disrepair could be damaging the economic vitality of the village, the parish council believes. The old B&R Carpets building and The Three Colts pub, both on Cambridge Road, were two

BUILDINGS in Stansted Mountfitchet which are left empty and falling into disrepair could be damaging the economic vitality of the village, the parish council believes.

The old B&R Carpets building and The Three Colts pub, both on Cambridge Road, were two properties identified by Stansted Parish Council as a concern.

Cllr Catherine Dean said: "The empty properties are detracting from the Cambridge Road, but there seems to be very little we can do about it.

"I have made enquiries with Uttlesford District Council and they do not have the power to bring commercial properties back into use.

"I think our best course of action is to write to the landlord, who is the same for both, and ask him what his intention is."

Cllr Dean also suggested that the council should write to Tesco, which has previously expressed an interest in turning the former B&R Carpets building into a Tesco Express, to see if they are still interested.

Chairman Geoffrey Sell agreed saying: "The residents of Stansted have expressed a view to us that the empty buildings are a blight on the village.

"It will happen that some businesses fail, but it is when the buildings are left unoccupied that they become a problem. I am concerned for other local businesses and the trade that they may lose because the area looks run down."

At a meeting last Wednesday the parish council voted to write to the landlord to ask what his intention was for the properties and to offer their assistance with finding new tenants. They will also write to Tesco.

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