c2c commuters call for Benfleet station cafe to reopen

2:00pm Thursday 17th July 2008

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AN ONGOING row over a lease has left a platform cafe at Benfleet station boarded up – and some commuters unhappy they can no longer get breakfast.

Wendy Daines, 62, of Merrivale, Benfleet, received a letter in October, from train operator c2c, saying her lease for the Rail Snacks cafe would not be renewed.

She tried to renegotiate the terms of her lease with c2c, but said the charges suggested meant she could not afford to continue running her business.

Mrs Daines received a final letter confirming her lease would not be renewed and, at the end of June, she moved out of the building.

“I’m really gutted,” she said. “I’ve left and c2c now aren’t paying me a penny. I had a letter from c2c, via my solicitor, saying they wanted me out by the end of June so that’s what I did.

“I wound down my stock and started clearing up.”

Mrs Daines is now looking at what legal action she can pursue to try and get some compensation from the train operator.

But the cafe is still closed and it is unclear when it will re-open.

Tracey Dawson, 22, of High Road, Benfleet commutes everyday to London.

She said: “It’s ridiculous. The cafe was fine as it was. You would have thought if they were going to get a new one, then it would be up and running straight away, or we’d at least see some refurbishment being done.

“The platform needs a cafe where people can buy something to eat, especially if they miss breakfast and want to get something for the train.”

Rebecca Richardson, spokeswoman for c2c, said the company had been working hard to find a solution with Mrs Daines.

She said: “We’re disappointed that an agreement with Mrs Daines hasn’t been met.

“We are currently looking at opening a temporary facility to cater for the customers of Benfleet Station with a view to reopening the cafe once the lease has been successfully tendered.”