I will be asking South Northants Council to explain why a large council property in Towcester has been left empty and unused for the past five years. At next week’s full council meeting I will raise the matter with SNC’s Conservative led administration.

Despite spending a whacking £454,895 of public money on a building intended for those in housing need, the property is still empty five years on. There appears to have been difficulties with housing organisations that should be running the building but leaving it empty for five years is a disgrace. What on earth have they been doing? It just goes to show how little importance they place on tackling homelessness in our town.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Chris Lofts comments: “Given the level of housing need, failing to use this property to help those in need reflects poorly on the Conservatives.” Councillor Lofts adds: “ It shows yet again that it’s been left to the Liberal Democrats to expose how the Tories are failing to get to grip with important issues in our town and district.”