Ambitious bid to improve Nelson Street

Ambitious plans to lift a dilapidated area of Nelson Street in Largs have been launched by a local landlord in tandem with North Ayrshire Council.
Property businessman Derek Clark has been approached to buy a number of properties and renovate them to help with the general housing shortage, and gave a presentation at last week’s community council meeting. 
Derek said: “People have turned their backs on Nelson Street, and it is going to take a change of attitude from everyone in the area to keep this going.
“I am trying to get all the different departments in the council together including the housing services, benefits, anti-social behaviour, landlord registration, and the police. We are hoping to let the good people of Nelson Street know that we are there, and we are going to try and change things.”
Police and social services have worked hard to try and rid the street of anti-social crime, and an opportunity is there to make a difference, Derek stated. He believes improved flower beds, lighting, and even ‘I love Largs’ signs could give the street a new lease of life.
A NAC spokesperson said: “We have adopted a number of measures to try and reduce the number of empty properties across North Ayrshire. Our Empty Homes Co-ordinator is responsible for contacting the owners of vacant properties and working with them, offering advice and assistance, to get them back to use.Nelson Street has been a particular area of focus and we have worked closely with Police Scotland in a targeted exercise to improve property condition and the wider environment. We have been in contact with a property developer on several occasions and have provided advice and assistance regarding his properties.”
Local councillor Tom Marshall said: “The council has recently agreed to support new affordable housing in Nelson Street to remove a gap site and so further improve the street. The licencing committee, of which I am vice chair, and other departments of the council have been very active in the last few years in dealing with rogue landlords and anti-social tenants.”