I see from a report in last week’s paper that National Empty Homes Week gave Somerset West and Taunton Council “a chance to demonstrate its commitment to tackling empty properties . . .” 

However, between October 2017 and October 2018, the old Taunton Deane Borough Council saw the number of properties that were unoccupied and substantially unfurnished over six months rise by 17 per cent from 388 to 453 (latest government figures).

So, how confident are we that when the next set of Government data arrives, this talk of commitment will have translated into action?

Richard Robinson, Coleford Water, Lydeard St Lawrence.