90,000 vacant shops risk devaluation through environmental and
criminal damage
AS the high
street turmoil deepens, a huge surge in vacant shops could lead to
the creation of a commercial property wasteland, according to G4S
Security Services (UK) (‘G4S’). Following high profile insolvencies
including Woolworths and MFI, 90,000 retail outlets are expected to
be vacant by the end of February 2009, a figure expected to rise to
135,000 or 15% of all UK shops, by the end of 20091.
G4S warns that if these buildings are left unattended, they could
easily lose significant value through environmental deterioration,
criminal damage and the presence of vermin and other intruders.
In addition to the obvious threats posed by fire, theft and criminal
damage, G4S says that vacant properties could devalue significantly,
whether through environmental deterioration or if illegally accessed
by squatters or other intruders. Fly-tipping in and around a
building, along with graffiti provide strong visual clues that it is
falling into disrepair. By maintaining a secure and well-presented
property, G4S says that owners or property managers can provide a
deterrent to those looking to exploit vacant space.
G4S warns that vacant premises remain a tax and insurance liability
with overheads that still need to be paid, even though the buildings
may not be generating income. If utilities are left to run, this can
impact on the environment and create further costs.
Richard Fenton-Jones, Managing Director, Monitoring and Response,
G4S Security Services (UK) said:- “The economic downturn has
already resulted in a surge in vacant premises across the country
and this is set to get much worse, particularly in the retail
sector. With company administrators looking to reduce costs
across vast portfolios of soon-to-be vacant properties, it is more
important than ever to ensure that sufficient security measures are
in place.”
G4S recently launched a specialist vacant property service to
provide a secure solution to this growing problem faced by
commercial property owners and managing agents. G4S offers a range
of specialist services tailored to vacant, and soon to be empty
commercial properties, including:-
► A full risk assessment
► Physical security protection, including security doors, window
grilles and steel sheet
► Temporary alarm installation and monitoring
► Response service for alarm activations and emergency call-outs
► Perimeter protection, key holding and mobile patrol services
► Vacant property clearances and cleans
► Steam cleaning and removal of graffiti
► Vermin removal and pest control
► General and hazardous waste removal
► Abandoned vehicle collection. |
ARRIVA SAYS ‘I DO’
ARRIVA North
West is set to play Cupid this Valentine’s Day, offering a unique
way for aspiring Romeos to pop the big question on the most romantic
day of the year. Forget the 'Love Boat'...
Liverpool will soon have the ‘Love Bus’....
Riding a rollercoaster, on the big screen at a football match, via
national TV, or during a tandem freefall skydive may all seem like
memorable and quirky locations to ask someone to marry you, but for
one day only Arriva will be offering up its ‘Love Bus’
to the people
of Liverpool.
Complete with chocolates, champagne, cherubs, hearts and harps, the
Arriva ‘Love Bus’ will be personalised to carry the lucky lady’s (or
gent’s) name, as well as the big question – ‘will you marry me?’
providing an unforgettable place to make a marriage proposal.
Debra Mercer, marketing manager for Arriva North West said:-
“We’re going to inject a bit of romance into Liverpool with our
‘Love Bus’. The actual place you ask someone to marry you is very
important and in recent years people have striven to make the most
unusual and memorable proposals.
We want to hear from people in Liverpool who are planning to ask
someone to marry them on 14 February 2009 and we will work with them to
set up the special event, using our ‘Love Bus’ as the mobile venue.
If we have any successful proposals we will, of course, be on
hand to help with transport to the wedding!”
Arriva has played a hand in love before, setting up the proposal of
Peter Brown to, his now fiancée, Joanne back in 2006. To find out
more about Arriva’s ‘Love Bus’, email
love@arriva.co.uk.
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