By Nora Parminter

THE Devon County Council owned former St Lawrence Care Home in Crediton has now been empty for two years and there have been concerns over the lack of maintenance of the site.

Devon County Councillor, Nick Way is concerned that the site has been left empty and said: "I have contacted the property department several times about keeping the site maintained.

"As soon as the care homes in Devon were decommissioned most were put on the market by Devon County Council (DCC).

"It has caused concern for my group (Liberal Democrats)on the council that DCC is still paying for the upkeep of empty homes in the county, including St Lawrence, closed by the Conservative administration at County Hall.

"The cost of their upkeep is coming from general funds, which includes taxpayers money.

He added: "I understand that Queen Elizabeth’s School is very interested in the site and would like to acquire it for boarding, and is currently in negotiations with DCC.

"Once the contracts are exchanged the school will be looking after the site. Until then DCC still has ownership and is responsible for the upkeep of the site."

Queen Elizabeth’s School Principal, Rupert Poole and Director of Finance Ben Brook confirmed that QE were interested in the former St Lawrence Care Home site and said:

"QE is currently in discussion with Devon County Council regarding St Lawrence however the County Council are the owners of the building and responsible for its care and maintenance."

An executor of an estate involving a house in St Martin’s Lane, Crediton recently told the Courier that he has been trying to sell the property since April and that prospective purchasers had been put off by the state of the nearby former site of St Lawrence Residential Care Home.

Laurence Parker said: "The mess and the uncertainty of what will happen to the council- owned building was putting off prospective purchasers.

"The grass had not been cut, part of the fence had blown down, a lamp was hanging off one of the light poles and branches that had been cut down a while ago had just been left.

"The building has now been empty for two years. The lights are left on at night and the property has been heated throughout the winter months.

"I have written to the council a couple of times, but nothing has happened."

In response a Devon County Council spokesman said: “Our contractors will be attending the site today (Wednesday, September 28) as part of our grounds maintenance schedule.”

As the Courier went to press Devon County Council contractors were working at the site.