Sidmouth baker in town centre property search

Empty property survey appeal to Sidmouth traders

TRADERS in Sidmouth have been asked to indicate if they know of any empty properties in the town centre.

District councillor and town centre baker Sheila Kerridge, told Chamber of Commerce members at their business breakfast on Wednesday: “No-one wants to build on green field sites.”

She is putting together a directory of the number of empty properties in all of East Devon’s town centres and said: “Surely we can utilise those properties in town centres that are empty and turn them back into residential and give people a home within the town centres.

“It would regenerate a lot of town centres. Sidmouth is not as bad as some. I think it would bring life back into the town centre in the evenings if someone was living above you.”

She said town centre residents would be their eyes and ears, listening to the High Street goings on at night.

“In some way we could stop a lot of unsociable behaviour. People might think twice about doing something like graffiti.”

Completed forms can be returned to Sheila at Vinnicombes Bakery, High Street, which she runs with her husband.