Will empty South Shields 365 sites be left to rot?

South Tyneside Council bought the freehold on three properties behind Fowler Street, South Shields, as part of the 365 masterplan, which aims to revamp the town centre.

However, phase 4 of the £100million plan – which was to create a supermarket in 2018/19 – has now been deferred, leaving the council with three empty properties on its hands.

It says a “strategy” will be prepared for each of the sites, but won’t say how much public cash it has spend on them.

Councillor Lee Hughes, a Putting People First representative, wants to know what is going to happen to the sites and how much cash is tied up in them.

He said: “We are told that this fourth phase has been deferred, but the council has already bought a number of properties in the area which were to be demolished.

“Some of these are right next to businesses which are still trading.

“Are these empty buildings just going to be left to rot? Is someone going to keep visiting them to keep check and make sure they’re maintained in a safe condition?

“Who knows when, or if, this fourth phase is picked up again. We could have buildings standing empty for any number of years, and it’s going to look a mess.

“It won’t be very nice for the companies who are still trying to make a living in the area having to see these run-down sites every day.

“Will the council be able to tell us how much was paid for these sites and the plans for them in the future?”

A council spokesman said: “As a responsible landlord, the council will prepare a strategy for each building to ensure they have a sustainable future.

“It’s important to note some of these buildings were already lacking investment when the council acquired them.

“We are unable to confirm how much has been spent, for reasons of commercial confidentiality.”

The decision to halt phase 4 of the 365 masterplan was announced at the start of this month.

For the last two years, many businesses behind Fowler Street have been left in limbo over their future.

Many of those which are still there and were affected by the council’s demolition plans believe they have been given a stay of execution.

Chris Richardson, who owns Leighton Motors, said: “For us, it is good news. We don’t have to find another site. We can stay here in the town centre, where everyone knows where we are.”

Peter Maughan, who owns Beacon Electrical, was pleased he could look to the future at last.

He said: “For more than two years we’ve been left in limbo and uncertainty. I couldn’t negotiate business, as I didn’t know where I’d be or where we’d be moving to.

“There was so much up in the air. There’s been no end of worry and I am now relieved that we have some kind of stability back in our lives.

“We were originally told that we’d be out of here by mid-2015 and that obviously hasn’t happened.

“I haven’t been able to invest in the building or do any work to it.”