February 28th, 2013 |
Cafe/ Restaurant Use Refused In Rayleigh High Street
The District Council has tonight refused planning permission for a change of use in Rayleigh High Street.
The application was for no. 74 High Street, which until recently was Johnsons Dry Cleaners. This is a retail use, and the application was to change it to restaurant/cafe use. In fact, it would have become a Pie and Mash shop.
Officers were recommending approval, but councillors refused it on the grounds of it being against our council retail policy of at least 75 % retail use in the town centre….
Ron Oatham
Trevor Parrett
Bruce Smart
Chris Stanley
Pam Waldie
Elena Black
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March 1st, 2013 at 09:03
A good decision. Many people I speak to do not like the trend of more eating places and bars in the town centre. The risk is that we lose retail outlets and end up as a town with only a night economy. We have enough cafes, restaurants and bars now. Well done RDC.
March 1st, 2013 at 09:03
Some people would rather have a high street filled with open businesses (shops or not) than empty retail premises.
March 1st, 2013 at 10:03
Sean, probably everyone “would rather have a high street filled with open businesses (shops or not) than empty retail premises.”
But most councillors felt that to keep a viable town centre we need a high percentage of retail.
Though opinion was split, and split cross-party as well. Of the 4 Lib Dems:
I voted for refusal and in fact seconded the motion.
Chris and June Lumley voted for refusal.
Ron voted against refusal – he said ‘very reluctantly’ he was in favour of allowing the application.
Whether or not it stays empty probably depends on the kind of rent that the landlord will ask for.
March 1st, 2013 at 10:03
The pet shop in Eastwood Road is closing shortly. There seem to be a few empty shops at the Iceland end of the High St. I do agree that we need emphasis on retail for a viable High St, but boarded up shops, if they start to proliferate, give a depressing air to the whole area and eventually people don’t want to come any more. It is noticeable sometimes how quiet the High St.is, even on a Saturday morning when you would expect it to be busy. I think allowing non retail use, but perhaps on only a short lease, until retail picks up again (if it ever does!) would at least give a more attractive look to the High St. than empty shops do.
March 2nd, 2013 at 05:03
Businesses i.e retail are put off by the high rents in Rayleigh High Street. Surely market forces should be allowed to apply. Shops will open when the rents fall to viable levels. How long has the old Oxfam shop been empty? Why has been empty for so long?
March 3rd, 2013 at 09:03
That is true Bruce, but I am guessing that most of the properties in Rayleigh that are rented are not owned by private landlords who will listen to reason and are happy to get some rent rather than an empty liability, but by property companies, pension funds, that type of organisation, who just don’t care. They set a rent and people pay it or don’t – end of story. Presumably Oxfam left when their lease expired, which indicates the rent went too high for them.
March 3rd, 2013 at 01:03
My understanding is that the Oxfam shop left due to potential rent rise but not sure as Oxfam seem to be cutting its number of shops. e.g Hamlet Court Road, and the Rayleigh one was not as well supported as it might have been. Will not explain why I think this.
March 3rd, 2013 at 11:03
If a pie & mash shop was ok further up the High St before it closed down, why not a another one further along the High St?
March 3rd, 2013 at 11:03
Good question, but if I remember correctly, there was previously a Chinese takeaway there, so it wasn’t a change of use.
And it did close down. I don’t know if that’s significant, but I wonder how many daytime eating places Rayleigh can support.
March 4th, 2013 at 08:03
The underlying issue seems to be the level of rents charged – Toys n Tuck being the latest to go for that reason. Who actually owns the properties on the High Street – is it the Council or a private entity? If the Council, then surely it should be acting with a bit more commom sense given the underlying economic realities. Ignoring the point that empty units do not exactly help attract businesses to the town, it must make more sense to have a tenanted unit paying some sort of rent rather than a vacant one paying nothing.
March 4th, 2013 at 09:03
I would prefer market forces would allow business to set up, if somebody thinks they can run a café or bar with other bars in the area it should not be the Council that stops them. If the Council wanted people to shop in Rayleigh then the parking charges would be free for the first two hours & only charge for long stays.
March 4th, 2013 at 02:03
I heard strong rumours a Subway franchise was looking at the premises?
March 4th, 2013 at 06:03
You’re right Chris. It was a Chinese takeaway before it was the pie and mash shop.
Whatever happens I just hope it isn’t another barbers/hairdressers shop. I wonder how many more of those Rayleigh can support – they seem a bit over represented at the moment.
March 4th, 2013 at 08:03
Ouch – the council only own the obvious civic places like the car parks, the civic suite and the Mill.
The shops are all owned by private entities.
March 4th, 2013 at 08:03
Thanks for all responses as this issue in my opinion is very important for the future of Rayleigh. There must be a limit to the number of cafes the town can support. Fairways next to the Co-op also shut but another has opened next to the school clothes shop. Market forces will apply, some will shut and we will back to empty shops again. the only answer must be lower rent on retail properties.
March 5th, 2013 at 01:03
The Fairways cafe was marvellously cheap but there was no way they were going to be able to sustain their business at give-away prices.
The new tea shop you mention Bruce is owned by the same family as The Rayleigh Retreat, so it’s refreshing to see businesses run by Rayleigh families. I hope they do well.
March 5th, 2013 at 09:03
The old travel agent shop next to the Police Station is currently being advertised at a rent of £19500pa. Once you factor in rates, energy costs, insurance and wages then the costs can be quite prohibitive for a new start up. Perhaps that’s why it’s only the big chains ( Subway etc ) can afford them.
March 5th, 2013 at 07:03
What is happening to Rayleigh High Street? I counted today and I think I’m right in saying we have (or will have) five empty units. Two adjacent to the Police Station (although not together), Johnsons Dry Cleaners (as per above), the gift shop next to Hotshots and now Toys and Tuck who have posted closing down signs. The only businesses to grab units at the moment are food and 99p/£1 stores. Just look at Southend High Street. Very sad.
March 5th, 2013 at 07:03
Oh, and Blockbusters of course! Unless Morrison’s bought our store. Does anyone know? I’ve looked on Morrison’s corporate site but no luck.
March 5th, 2013 at 07:03
And of course I forget the old cafe next to the CO-OP so all in all seven units that are empty or will be empty. Are there any others I’ve forgotten?
March 5th, 2013 at 08:03
Alison, Fairways is still going, their cafe is opposite the Lords Golf course within the Garden Centre / Builders Yard etc.
March 6th, 2013 at 01:03
I think it’s 9 empty or about to be in fact. Premier, the mini mart near the Police Station never seems to be open, and as I said earlier, the pet shop in Eastwood Road is going very soon, this weekend I think, oh yes, and the old Pie and Mash shop, I don’t recall seeing anything new go in there, so if that is still empty 10.
Rayleigh is a nice place to shop. Pleasant, attractive, High St. it feels safe there, and like a lot of people I try to support local shops, but it’s hard to do that if they aren’t there. It would be a great shame to see the High St become like Southend or Wickford, all food, pound shops, estate agents and nail bars and no “proper” shops any more, all because some people want extortionate rents, especially in view of the good that moving the market to the High St. has done. Surely this is something the Chamber of Trade or Council should be trying to raise with property owners to try and encourage businesses to come to Rayleigh.
March 6th, 2013 at 09:03
Annas Pet Shop on Eastwood Road next to the closed Card Shop is also due to close as well.
March 6th, 2013 at 02:03
Richard, you forgot the Pet Shop next to the crossing in Eastwood Road…
March 6th, 2013 at 09:03
Rayleigh Resident,
Thanks for the info about Fairways Cafe. I’m very glad to hear that they are still in business. Really nice people.
March 8th, 2013 at 01:03
Leaving aside the problem of high rents another issue is the traffic getting into the town centre, especially on Saturdays. You can find yourself queuing from the Rayleigh Wier up to the Eastwood Road junction or from the station all the way up to the Crown Hill / High St junction. Makes it that bit more tempting to just park in one of the large supermarkets and get all your shopping there.
March 8th, 2013 at 11:03
That is very true. The traffic lights just past Eastwood Road junction and the pedestrian crossing at the top of Crown Hill are badly placed and they cause a lot of the problems. Last Saturday I sat for 10 minutes two cars back from Eastwood Road junction while the roundabout was completely jammed up by three buses, one after the other who just blocked the whole thing. It wasn’t helped by roadworks just at the top of Crown Hill but nothing could get round, if the buses had just held back until they could get right round traffic could have flowed down the High St. That whole junction/traffic lights/crossing area is badly planned for traffic flow and causes most of the jams on any given day.
March 10th, 2013 at 11:03
Santa Lucia restaurant is also closing this weekend!
March 14th, 2013 at 07:03
Hi all. I saw the pet shop was gone today. What is happening to Rayleigh? It’s very sad. I don’t even know how many empty units there are. I’ve lost count.
March 14th, 2013 at 08:03
I think the pet shop is a retirement situation…..
Speaking more generally, yes times are hard for High Streets for economic reasons and also because of the internet. But Rayleigh is still doing better than most (though I know that sounds awfully complacent, and we need to try harder)
March 14th, 2013 at 09:03
Thanks Chris. I noticed today in King George’s park signs advertising for someone interested in operating the new tea shop coming soon to the sports pavilion. So we have a High Street with give or take, 12 empty units and RDC are opening a new unit in the park. I don’t get it.
March 14th, 2013 at 10:03
That’s a Town Council proposal….
http://www.essexinfo.net/rayleightowncouncil/assets/documents/expression-of-interest
April 5th, 2013 at 07:04
I know it’s a little out of ‘our patch’, but I read with interest in the local paper today Lidl are planning to submit a planning application to build a store on the old Safe Store building (and adj land) at the top of Progress Rd where it meets Eastwood Road. Whilst it will be good to see that old building go in favour of something new, I wonder how another big store will effect our High Street. There is a local consultation to the public this coming Thursday.
April 18th, 2013 at 07:04
Does anyone know why the restaurant Santa Lucia has closed?
April 18th, 2013 at 07:04
I think they just decided for business reasons to become a venue rather than a restaurant – they are now The Old Parish Rooms
http://www.theoldparishrooms.com/
April 19th, 2013 at 03:04
Thank you. What a loss for the general public, me and my family have had many birthday meals and general lunches there as well as being a place to have a glass of wine or a coffee. It had a very special ambience and the staff were always lovely, as was the food and drink! The jazz evenings were good too. I wish them well but Santa Lucia will be missed!
April 19th, 2013 at 06:04
Do they have a website? Or any vacancies???
April 19th, 2013 at 07:04
Lynne, I know it’s a real loss if your favourite eating or drinking place closes. Have you tried Marco’s ? (thats my personal favourite)
CCR – try this link:
http://www.theoldparishrooms.com/
April 22nd, 2013 at 01:04
We went twice, the food was fine but after coming out each time with a bill for over 50 quid for pizza for 2 we decided to go elsewhere.
April 24th, 2013 at 05:04
I believe the application is from the same person who has the The pie-and-mash shop in Weston Road Southend. It is actually known as ‘The Family Cafe’ and is scrupulously clean, staff are friendly, there’s a variety of meals to choose from, well cooked, quickly served and a good cup of tea. All this at a very reasonable price. Although it differs from most of the trendy bistro/bar/restaurants already in the High Street I think it would be a great attraction for people who prefer a good value, unpretentious Cafe.