Landlords and tenants of shabby looking empty shops blighting Swansea's Oxford Street have been encouraged to keep the appearance of their premises in a better condition.
It comes as struggling traders are hoping to attract customers back into the city's main shopping quarters following the relaxing of coronavirus pandemic lockdown restrictions.
The unloved units are all actively being marketed by estate agents looking for new occupants to move in and take over, but the facades do not offer the most welcoming sight for shoppers, and some traders feel if they were better looked after, more people would be likely to shop in the area.
Tavrez Khan is manager of Step In Style ladies fashion boutique in Oxford Street, which is nearby a number of the empty shops.
He said: "I definitely think if they improved the empty shops people would come into town more. Some of them have looked like they have gone now for close to a year.
"At the moment we are all struggling in this area. Customers are still nervous coming out.
"It's had a massive impact on us. We had our regular customers but we still have not seen a lot of them since lockdown begun."
Chief executive of Swansea BID, Russell Greenslade, said efforts were being made to create a "welcoming city centre environment".
He said: “Of course, it is the responsibility of each individual landlord or tenant to maintain and repair their own respective properties, we cannot be responsible for their buildings.
“However, we are working with them to help create a welcoming city centre environment surrounding their premises.
"Our BID-funded cleansing and graffiti removal teams have been working through lockdown to keep the city as safe and attractive as possible.
"We would urge any businesses in the city centre who may be affected by graffiti or external cleansing issues, to contact us to take advantage and help us to make Swansea city centre cleaner for all.”
Swansea Council says it is working together with Swansea BID to try and encourage the owners of the units to keep their premises in good condition.
A statement read: "Swansea is no different to other large cities around the UK who suffer from empty and vacant properties in their retail areas.
"In the short term, we work closely with Swansea BID to try and encourage property owners to keep their premises clean and in good condition.
"Our wider plans in regenerating Swansea city centre are already visible for everyone to see with huge amounts of development currently under way to help transform Swansea into a thriving city centre."
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