WREXHAM Council is planning to use legal powers to bring more empty homes back into use.

However, the local authority has admitted that the process involved with compulsory purchase orders can be complicated and time-consuming.

Figures show there were 709 empty properties in the county as of April this year, of which 38 have been brought back into use.

It is now planning to take greater action to meet the demand for housing in the area as part of its Local Housing Strategy.

Senior politicians said they would use ‘all available means’, including buying back homes purchased under Right to Buy laws.

Questions were raised though by several opposition councillors about the length of time it takes to track down home owners who live outside Wrexham.

Speaking at an executive board meeting yesterday Cllr Brian Cameron (Lab), said: “I’ve actually got one in my ward where someone lives out of county.

“What’s concerning is the length of time it takes to go about the process.

“This particular one has caused all sorts of problems, including damage to council properties and so forth and the sooner the better that we can get over this problem.”

Similar concerns were also raised by Hermitage councillor Graham Rogers (Lab).

Since September the council has purchased four properties under the buy-back scheme.

It is also actively looking at a further 30 houses which have been offered.

However, Cllr David Griffiths (Ind), lead member for housing, said dealing with owners of empty properties could be hard.

He said: “The difficulty we have is in getting the owners to engage.

“If they don’t engage it’s a prolonged process that I’ve reported on in the past.

“We’ve got a number of owners that I’ve been made aware of who know longer live in the county borough and we have to find out where they live.

“That happens and we do searches for that.

“As we know, legal processes have their own speed.”

As part of the strategy, new council houses are being built in Wrexham for the first time in 30 years.

Enabling works are being carried out on the site of the former Nant Silyn Care Home in Caia Park and in Plas Madoc, where a combined total of 27 new affordable homes will be developed.

It will add to the authority’s existing housing stock of 11,200 properties.

Executive board members unanimously voted in favour of adopting the strategy which covers the next five years and is aimed at providing more choice for residents.