More should be done to bring empty properties in the Dover, Deal and Sandwich area back into use, according to the Kent Green Party.

Figures show there are 25,000 empty properties in Kent, both homes and commercial premises, despite the No Use Empty initiative which operates in various areas including Dover.

Dover district has the third highest figure in the county for empty homes, 1,835, behind Ashford (1,922), and Medway (3,127).

“The huge number of empty homes in Kent - 18,403 - offer a considerable resource to the county for creating usable homes to the highest standards of energy efficiency,” said party spokesman Steve Dawe.

“This would allow new residents or tenants to meet the challenge of rising energy bills.

“Since the Government is being challenged by MPs and many other organisations to do more to meet its 15 per cent target for renewable electricity by 2020, it needs to release more resources to the Housing Corporation and to local councils to bring empty property into use.”