North West Leicestershire District Council has responded to Cllr Michael Wyatt's plea for action to be taken on Coalville's empty buildings - and admitted some are too expensive to buy.

Cllr Wyatt, deputy leader of the District Council, said on social media that properties such as the former Rex cinema and Co-op, along with other buildings in Coalville, are having a negative impact on the town.

He posted on social media that he has raised the subject with North West Leicestershire District Council.

But the council points to the buildings around Marlborough Square as an example of how it is addressing the issue.

However, it adds that buildings such as the Rex cannot simply be bought up and restored due to a high asking price.

Paul Wheatley, Head of Property and Regeneration for NWLDC, said: "We do have a range of powers that we can use to tackle long-term empty properties, and we always want to bring these properties back to life, working alongside the owners. 

The council is converting empty Marlborough Square properties as part of the area's redveleopment. Photo: North West Leicestershire District Council

"It's not good for a place to have these buildings empty for a long time and we'd always like to do more, but are often constrained by the limits of the legislation.

"We've recently bought the row of shops and flats that runs from Newmarket on Marlborough Square round onto Belvoir Road to Owen Street, which was two thirds empty. 

Cllr Michael Wyatt called for action on Coalville's empty buildings. Photo: Coalville Nub News

"We were able to buy it for a few hundred thousand pounds and now have plans to invest millions to bring it up to standard.

"Some properties are more complex and sometimes owners of properties have higher asking prices, as has been the case with the Rex, where the price puts it beyond the council's capacity at the moment.

"But we simply don't have the budget to buy up every high-profile vacant building across the district.

"We have a programme of investment across the district that is designed to support the regeneration of our towns and villages.

"We hope that our very visible investment in areas like Marlborough Square will encourage more private sector investment, to address other buildings like the Co-op and the Rex."