CALLS have been made to put pressure on the owners of derelict buildings in Newquay to make them safe following the fatal fire at Narrowcliff.

Councillors would like to see the Cornwall Council reestablish its Derelict Build Team, which was set up to tackle the number of empty buildings in Pentire.

It follows concerns people can enter the derelict buildings and the properties becoming dangerous during storms as slates can be blown off. Fears have also been raised the dilapidated buildings look an eyesore in the tourist town.

The Derelict Build Team previously encouraged developers who left buildings derelict for years to either get planning permission for redevelopment schemes or to knock them down.

Newquay Central Cornwall councillor Joanna Kenny has approached the unitary authority about resurrecting the Derelict Build Team, which is open to the idea.

Newquay Town Council is due to make a decision at its next full meeting on Wednesday, August 6 on whether to request Cornwall Council should start up the team once again.

It follows a number of empty buildings becoming dilapidated including the terraced property at Narrowcliff where the body of a man in his thirties was found deceased following the fire on Tuesday, July 22.

The building is one of two terraced properties that are part of developer Salboy’s plans to knockdown along with the Hotel Bristol, the adjacent Narrowcliff Hotel and Narrowcliff Surgery and construct 143 new dwellings in three separate buildings over five storeys.

Other derelict properties councillors would like to see redeveloped include Skerryvore at Island Crescent.

Cllr Kenny said: “I have contacted Cornwall Council and they have asked me to put in a formal request to the town council to re-establish the derelict build team. If there is a formal request then the head of enforcement at Cornwall Council can raise it with senior management.

“A team could be established to directly look at these buildings.

“We had a raft of these buildings at Fistral and a dedicated team at Cornwall Council put in a lot of extra work to talk to the owners to push them to take action.

“It worked. All the buildings got planning permission and we are looking to start a team up again to stop developers sitting on these wrecks.

“Although the Hotel Bristol complex has planning permission in place the buildings are looking very sad.

“During a storm the buildings could lose tiles and people can get into them. They are simply not safe. It is not a major problem yet, but it could become one. The tragic fire at the property at Narrowcliff has shown exactly why it is an issue.”

Cllr Steve Slade added: “I think allowing developers to leave derelict buildings and hotels is dangerous especially the former Narrowcliff Hotel and the Hotel Bristol.

“When the autumn storms arrive slates will be flying everywhere. We have to push Cornwall Council planners to do something about the situation even if it’s knocking down the properties and putting a fence around them.

“We don’t want these hideous derelict buildings on show for visitors. Cornwall Council needs to take action to stop developers from being allowed to leave their properties to rot and become an eyesore.

“It is about safety and the aesthetics of the town. We do not want Newquay to look like a war zone.”