Blighted high streets.

My local town - like I suspect many others - is looking rather sad these days, with many empty shops. Moves are afoot apparently to allow councils to rent such premises for community projects, like art galleries, advice centres, adult education classes and so on. Jolly good idea, but I'm not so sure about renting - putting local taxpayers' cash into the pockets of property owners doesn't strike me as particularly sensible in the present economic climate. Give the council compulsory powers to take over such premises short-term for such purposes, that would be more like it.