Petition BRING EMPTY SHOPS AND HOUSING BACK INTO USE.

IF EVERY EMPTY SHOP WAS BROUGHT BACK INTO USE THE UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES WOULD BE SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED.

IF EVERY EMPTY HOUSE AND FLAT WAS BOUGHT BACK INTO USE THE NUMBER OF HOMELESS AND THOSE ON WAITING LISTS WOULD BE DRASTICALLY REDUCED.

ALL EMPTY PROPERTIES WILL PAY DOUBLE RATES FOR THE FIRST YEAR AND TREBLE FOR THE SECOND YEAR AND QUADRUPLE FOR THE THIRD AND SUBSEQUENT YEARS.

THIS WOULD FORCE OWNERS TO EITHER PAY OR FIND A WAY OF BRINGING THE PROPERTY BACK INTO USE. I FULLY ACCEPT THAT THIS WOULD FORCE RENTS DOWN IN SOME AREAS BUT THIS MUST BE BALANCED AGAINST EMPLOYMENT AND PEOPLE HAVING SOMEWHERE TO LIVE.

THIS MAY NOT BE POPULAR BUT THE PROPOSAL WOULD ONLY AFFECT THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD IT. THE OTHER ADVANTAGE IS THAT NO MASSIVE LAW CHANGES ARE REQUIRED.