MORE than £380,000 has been spent on tackling four dilapidated Wisbech buildings.

Fenland District Council has expended £383,000 on making 1 Nene Quay, 11/12 and 24 High Street and the Phoenix safe and suitable for re-use.

Repairs carried out since a fire engulfed Constantine House, of 1 Nene Quay, in March 2010 have cost £25,672.

They have spent £86,495 carrying out improvements on 11/12 High Street, Wisbech, which has been derelict for more than five years.

Fenland Council has taken ownership of 24 High Street, which has also been derelict for more than five years.

They have spent £71,621 on making the steel structure safe.

The largest amount directed towards on a single property is £200,000, which has been used to preserve the façade of the Phoenix Hotel.

The building was set on fire in April 2010 and its owner, Mrs Wong, has proved untraceable.

A report for next week’s Cabinet meeting said: “The level of expenditure is a reflection of the scale of the structural problems which had to be confronted.”

MP Barclay has launched a petition as part of his campaign against derelict buildings.

He asked the Government to ensure councils make full use of all of their powers to guarantee landlords of derelict buildings bring them back to life.

FDC Councillor Virginia Bucknor said the present state of Wisbech’s derelict buildings was discouraging people from coming to the town.

She said: “ One resident advised that they had just agreed the sale of their home when the potential owners told them they’d just pop around Wisbech and take a look at it only to receive a telephone call that evening that it was such a run-down town they didn’t want to proceed.

“The knock-on effect to attract experienced people to live in Wisbech and attract businesses to the town is of course self-evident.”