SIR,

In support of Dr Owen's letter in the Beacon I would like to refer you to a campaign initiated by Kevin McCloud the presenter of Grand Designs.

He has identified the fact that there is an increasing number of empty, sometimes derelict property that councils could improve or convert to low priced starter homes or rental property.

The website is found on http://www.channel4.com/kevin">www.channel4.com/kevin and click on the link to 'campaign'.

This will take you to 'The Great British Property Scandal' that identifies a million empty homes in the UK and two million people without a home.

You can identify properties in your area and the campaign will email the county council highlighting the fact that these properties could be adapted as homes rather than building new ones.

I would add to this that councils could encourage businesses to convert redundant accommodation above shops, banks etc to flats by offering to reduce the already high business rates in line with the rates collected from these flats.

This, alongside the rent or sale of these properties, would reduce the burden on businesses and encourage retailers to remain open, keeping town centres alive and vibrant.

Somebody once said that it is better to come with a solution than a problem.

If enough people contact Monmouthshire County Council they will be shamed into using these properties (some of which are closed council offices) in preference to new builds on greenbelt land.

Andrew Rossiter

(Monmouth)