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Wolverhampton factory building in unpaid rates probe

The owner of an eyesore empty building on the approach to a city centre has not paid any rates since the 1980s, a senior councillor has claimed.

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Wolverhampton Council is now investigating the claims by Councillor Mrs Wendy Thompson surrounding the former Frank Glover works in Mary Ann Street, off Middle Cross, Wolverhampton.

Councillor Thompson said a source at the council told her that no rates had been paid on the building, since at least the late 1980s.

She believes the building has been empty since the Frank Glover engineering works closed in 1980, but doesn't know who now owns the building.

Before the introduction of the Rating (Empty Properties) Act 2007, empty industrial properties were exempt from paying rates. However, a change in the law reduced the rate-free period to just six months, although rates still do not have to be paid on buildings which are in an unusable condition.

Wendy Thompson

Councillor Thompson said the disused building gave a very poor impression to people entering the city, and called on the council to look into the possibility of removing the exemption.

"This is a building on a prominent location on the way into the city, and I can't see why it has been empty for so long," she said.

"I would have thought somewhere like this, right on the way into the city next to the ring road, would be a prime site.

"This property is badly in need of regeneration, whether it be commercial or residential, I think most people just want to see the site redeveloped."

She has taken the matter up with the council's interim director of legal services Kevin O'Keefe, who is now looking into the matter.

The neighbouring former Brewbakers building has also been empty for some years, although Councillor Thompson said she was pleased work had recently been done to tidy it.

Councillor Thompson recently also called for action to tidy the former Edward Vaughan stamping works in Lower Horseley Fields, which has been empty for some years.

"The Horseley Fields area really needs tidying up," she said. "The approach to the city by rail gives a terrible impression to visitors," she said.

Wolverhampton Council spokesman Paul Brown said Councillor Thompson's concerns had been noted, and that the authority would be looking into the matter.

"We will be investigating Councillor Thompson's concerns, and looking at ways of working with the landlord and bringing the building back into use."

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