Promise to fix 'dilapidated' former coffee shop site

Repairs will be carried out to a former coffee shop, following complaints about the state of the building.

Ludlow Town Council said it was concerned about the "dangerously dilapidated condition" of the building on King Street and was increasingly worried about "serious risks to public safety".

People working in nearby businesses had also complained about the condition of the site of a former Costa Coffee shop, which closed in 2023.

Shropshire Council said it had spoken to the owners and had been reassured that action would be taken.

The town council said it had made "repeated calls for action" and that there had been "reported incidents of debris and glass falling from the structure onto the public footpath below, posing a clear and unacceptable danger to pedestrians".

It also said because Ludlow had to maintain its reputation of being a "beautiful and historic market town", every property owner had a moral responsibility to preserve their building in a "safe and sound condition".

Ben Critchley from Vine and Juniper wine merchants said: "It's just awful to look at, and everyone who's been passing by has been commenting on what a shame it is to see it in such a state."

He said it should be "such a lovely building in a prime location".

Tania Hughes from Fenella, another shop which overlooks the former Costa Coffee building, said: "It's appalling, it looks shabby, and it just generally looks like it's falling down."

"When you have the odd shop like that, which really does need some serious TLC [tender loving care], it's just sad," she said.

Monika Curry, the co-owner of Bodenhams, an independent lifestyle shop in Ludlow, said she made sure she looked after her building and called for "clear communication and deadlines" from Shropshire Council.

Ludlow Town Council said it had "no legal authority to compel the property owner, SEP Properties, or their contractor, Beaumanor, to undertake the necessary remedial works". And added, "decisive action from Shropshire Council was essential".

The county council said it had met the building's owner in September and agreed the exterior was in "poor condition".

It said there was concern in the town, but "while the building needs some maintenance work, it is not classed as a dangerous structure".

Nevertheless, it said it had a commitment from the owner to carry out repairs as soon as scaffolding could be erected and that the exterior would be painted too.

The council said the owner had plans to bring the building back into use, with the top floors as flats and the ground floor as commercial premises.

Plans were being drawn up by architects, which would be shared soon, it said.

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