News & Things resubmits application for residential use
The owners of Charlbury's long-established newsagent, News & Things, have again applied to West Oxfordshire District Council for permission to close the shop and convert the building to residential use.
In the application, their agents write:
"Since the Co-op commenced trading, News & Things has seen a significant drop in sales and footfall, despite active advertising campaigns for the shop/cafe. Much of the decline is clearly directly attnbutable to the opening of the new Co-op convenience store, which is now the hub of the community, given Its wide range of goods and the availability of free car parking. This made it the 'one-stop' shop in the town, significantly reducing the footfall to the existing retailers in the centre of Charlbury, including News & Things, to such an extent that several businesses have closed."
A previous application was turned down three years ago because "it had not been demonstrated that other retail uses of the greater benefit to the rural community were not viable".
In turn, "the applicants were advised that [...] they had to demonstrate that the shop unit was not viable by effectively marketing the shop over a penod of at least a year, and that the marketing exercise had generated little realistic prospect of it being sold as a going concern or for other retail purposes and trading styles". The business has been on the market since.
The current application argues that there will be no loss to Charlbury from closing the business, and indeed that removing competition will help other businesses prosper. "The Co-op sells all the items stocked by News & Things apart from the provision of the cafe and stocking stationery. Stationery can be purchased at the Post Office, cards and wrapping paper are supplied by the Post Office and Cotswold Frames. Alternative cafes are situated next door in The Good Food Shop and the new coffee lounge at the newly refurbished Bell Hotel. Newspaper delivenes are also provided by Fiveways Londis Store."
The full application can be seen at www.westoxon.gov.uk by searching for application 10/0778/P/FP in the Planning Applications section. Comments against or in support of the application should be sent to jon.westerman@westoxon.gov.uk .
Richard Fairhurst · Mon 28 Jun 2010, 13:53 · Link