Community leaders said they are "working very hard" to fill units vacant for almost two years at a former Post Office building after a café deal fell through last minute.
Last week, West Suffolk Council announced the CASA Group had pulled out of a deal to open a café, called Amici, at the Old Post Office in St Andrew’s Street, Bury St Edmunds.
The deal would have filled one of two empty units which have been vacant since the former Post Office building was redeveloped into flats and ground-floor commercial units by West Suffolk Council.
The flats have all been sold, for a total of about £4million, but the commercial units have been closed since works were completed almost two years ago, in March 2023.
During a full council meeting, Susan Glossop said despite interest, the increases in business rates and national insurance announced in the government’s Budget could make it harder to find tenants.
She suggested the units should be used in other ways, whether by opening them up for an indoor market or at least murals.
Ms Glossop added: “These have been vacant now for two years with the council having to pay business rates for empty units.
“I’d like to suggest that we give our market traders or start-up businesses the opportunity to use these units as pop-ups especially though the months to spring as at least this would make the view in St Andrew’s Street less unattractive than it is now.
“We really are not being very good neighbours to The Arc, which has worked extremely hard to fill their empty units and, at the same time, they engage with the community and put on events which are being very well received.”
Addressing this, West Suffolk’s leader, Cliff Waterman, welcomed the mural suggestions and said he would follow them up with officers.
He added: “I share your frustration, I know the team are working very hard to resolve the issue and get tenants in - we were very disappointed that Amici pulled out at the last minute.
“All I can do is reassure you that the team is working as hard as they can to fill those units.”
Last week, the council said it had two "exciting" leads in the hope of a positive announcement in the near future.
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