US town in plan to shame homeowners

The health board in a Massachusetts town has approved a plan to shame owners of run-down buildings into fixing and securing their properties.

The plan approved by the Webster board allows the US town to place signs on the sides of dilapidated buildings with the owner’s names, address and telephone number.

Spokesman Mark Dowgiewicz said it costs up to $9,000 per year (£5,500) for police responses and other expenses to deal with squatters, vandals and other problems.

Building Inspector Theodore Tetreault added that building owners have ignored requests from the town to secure vacant properties.

Webster is a town of about 16,000 nearly 60 miles south west of Boston.