A BANK in Rayleigh could make way for a restaurant and a convenience store.

An application has been made to Rochford District Council to change 57-61 in the High Street, which is currently the Santander bank, New Look and Elliot and Smith estate agent, into a restaurant and convenience store.

The bank would become a new restaurant and the remaining properties could be a convenience store.

Santander, however, has denied it will be leaving Rayleigh.

A spokesman for the bank said: “We have no plans to leave Rayleigh and our lease does not expire on the property until July 2018.”

Carl Watson, president of the Rayleigh Chamber of Trade, was shocked to hear of the application and raised concerns about another restaurant coming to the town after Pizza Express recently confirmed it would open in the High Street later this year.

Mr Watson said: “I would have grave reservations about another restaurant moving into the High Street.

“There has been a bank there for as long as I’ve been in the town, which is more than 20 years, and New Look has been there for a similar amount of time too.

“It would be a shame to lose New Look as a retailer and Santander as a bank, and also the estate agent as a new independent business.

“I understand the night time economy is booming, but there has to be a balance.

“I would hope the local authority would take it on board as it is a prime shop usage area.”

The application has been made by a company called D&A Limited, whose address is listed as Audley Street, Mayfair, London.

Steve Smith, owner of Elliot and Smith, said the landlord of his premises had made the application, but he had only just been made aware of it.

He said: “I spoke to somebody next door in New Look and they didn’t know anything about it either. It seems a little bit cloak and dagger.”