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Dudley's MP says she is disappointed the borough council will not accept government cash to upgrade vacant shops.

Labour's Sonia Kumar believes the Conservative-run authority should sign up for the High Street Rental Auctions scheme.

The scheme gives local authorities the power to sell leases for up to five years on vacant high street properties and provides cash from Westminster to refurbish premises.

In September council leader, Cllr Patrick Harley told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that while the council was committed to regeneration in Dudley town centre it would not be taking advantage of the scheme.

Ms Kumar said: "Dudley town centre, for a number of years, has been a dying high street and whenever I speak to residents people have said they want a thriving t

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