Empty seafront cafes could be taken back by council (From Echo)
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Empty seafront cafes could be taken back by Southend Council
10:00am Thursday 3rd January 2013 in Southend
The cafes
FRUSTRATED council chiefs are considering wresting back control of two seafront cafes which have stood empty for seven years, but they face a court battle to do so.
Bosses at Southend Council are preparing to use a get-out clause in the leases of two units, built during a £6million revamp of Pier Hill in 2005, to return them to public ownership.
But the current leaseholder, businessman Peter Woolf, claims the authority has no right to act and will burn up taxpayers’ money in the courts trying to force him out.
Mr Woolf said: “I will fight it all the way.
“They do not have a case and they will just waste time and money in the courts if they go ahead with this.
“It is in nobody’s interest to do this.”
Southend Council used European grant money to fund the revamp of Pier Hill, which included the Sky Tower observation platform, its lifts and the two outlets which have lain empty ever since.
The project was finished in 2005 and an agreement was reached with Mr Woolf to lease the shops, but problems with leaking water meant the deal was not finalised until May 2011.
Under the terms of the leases, council chiefs claim Mr Woolf must have the cafes open - either by running them himself or sub-letting them to another business - by next summer. If he does not, they believe they can activate a clause which will terminate the deals after a month.
Andrew Moring, the Tory councillor responsible for support services, said: “Clearly the council is concerned that, despite a considerable length of time, these units have not been brought forward and the council and the tenant now need to consider their options.
“The council is in discussion with the lessee and it would not be appropriate to discuss the details at the delicate state in negotiation, but taking the leases back might be one option.”
However, Mr Woolf claims a miscalculation in the size of the units - which are much bigger than first thought - means the leases are invalid.
He says he is happy to return the leases, but only if the council agrees to pay £75,000 in compensation to cover his costs from the last seven years.
Mr Woolf said: “Two solicitors have looked at my case and say it is strong.
“I’m quite happy to get out and let them get on with it, but I want my costs to be covered.”
Comments(16)
Carnabackable
says...
10:38am Thu 3 Jan 13
Brunning999
says...
12:04pm Thu 3 Jan 13
Lets get on with building a nice place for everyone to benefit from. 7 years to leave empty is to long and just fails to enhance the town especially when so much has changed.
Get real Mr Woolf !!!!!
Sir Peter Pantsless the 3rd
says...
2:22pm Thu 3 Jan 13
.
Lets not forget the £390,000 art installation that never worked and was swiftly removed.
.
Bet you have all forgotten about the water feature that was removed soon after completion due to leakage.
.
What about the lifts that are more often 'out of order' than working.
.
And who would want to develop a business in either of the cafes when the whole pier hill development has a fundamental design floor that is when it was designed, they forgot to install a damp course!
.
Southend Council's ineptness reached unprecedented levels with this whole fiasco, only recently surpassed by the Victoria Gateway c0ck-up.
LibbyJ
says...
6:42pm Thu 3 Jan 13
Sir Peter Pantsless the 3rd wrote:'Wresting back control' will give them something to feel important and justified about their existence for a few months though. I didn't see the art installation, was it good?
What a complete farce this whole development has been since day one all those years ago.
.
Lets not forget the £390,000 art installation that never worked and was swiftly removed.
.
Bet you have all forgotten about the water feature that was removed soon after completion due to leakage.
.
What about the lifts that are more often 'out of order' than working.
.
And who would want to develop a business in either of the cafes when the whole pier hill development has a fundamental design floor that is when it was designed, they forgot to install a damp course!
.
Southend Council's ineptness reached unprecedented levels with this whole fiasco, only recently surpassed by the Victoria Gateway c0ck-up.
Max Impact
says...
6:42pm Thu 3 Jan 13
Max Impact
says...
6:48pm Thu 3 Jan 13
Sir Peter Pantsless the 3rd wrote:Just to remind you that Pier Hill was paid for by European funding ans NOT SBC as was "Lifelines"
What a complete farce this whole development has been since day one all those years ago.
.
Lets not forget the £390,000 art installation that never worked and was swiftly removed.
.
Bet you have all forgotten about the water feature that was removed soon after completion due to leakage.
.
What about the lifts that are more often 'out of order' than working.
.
And who would want to develop a business in either of the cafes when the whole pier hill development has a fundamental design floor that is when it was designed, they forgot to install a damp course!
.
Southend Council's ineptness reached unprecedented levels with this whole fiasco, only recently surpassed by the Victoria Gateway c0ck-up.
SARFENDMAN
says...
9:50pm Thu 3 Jan 13
Max Impact
says...
11:11pm Thu 3 Jan 13
SARFENDMAN wrote:Thought I would point out the fact thats all, as your posting mad eit look like it was paid for wholely by SBC.
Botched development from start to finish sort of typical SBC who also now I see are thinking of putting in wind breaks to stop people getting wet and wind frozen at the station at the end of the pier. It was paid for by tax payers of Europe so includes us Max.
What gets me people say don't like that hate it blah blah blah but they still use it, if you hate it, it if don't like it, simple thing is vote with your feet and DON'T use it! but thats too simple for some.
Brunning999
says...
1:47am Fri 4 Jan 13
SARFENDMAN
says...
6:27am Fri 4 Jan 13
Max Impact wrote:Don't misquote me if you read my post I said nothing about "Hate it". Southend just deserved better.
SARFENDMAN wrote: Botched development from start to finish sort of typical SBC who also now I see are thinking of putting in wind breaks to stop people getting wet and wind frozen at the station at the end of the pier. It was paid for by tax payers of Europe so includes us Max.Thought I would point out the fact thats all, as your posting mad eit look like it was paid for wholely by SBC. What gets me people say don't like that hate it blah blah blah but they still use it, if you hate it, it if don't like it, simple thing is vote with your feet and DON'T use it! but thats too simple for some.
largo1
says...
11:07am Fri 4 Jan 13
Broadwaywatch
says...
5:24pm Fri 4 Jan 13
SARFENDMAN wrote:It would seem that if anyone writes anything on any subject that in anyway appears to be against SBC then expect comments from Max Impact. You only have yourself to blame. You must understand Sarfendman that you and I know nothing about Southend evenmore so, less about its history. Coffee sometime soon?
Max Impact wrote:Don't misquote me if you read my post I said nothing about "Hate it". Southend just deserved better.
SARFENDMAN wrote: Botched development from start to finish sort of typical SBC who also now I see are thinking of putting in wind breaks to stop people getting wet and wind frozen at the station at the end of the pier. It was paid for by tax payers of Europe so includes us Max.Thought I would point out the fact thats all, as your posting mad eit look like it was paid for wholely by SBC. What gets me people say don't like that hate it blah blah blah but they still use it, if you hate it, it if don't like it, simple thing is vote with your feet and DON'T use it! but thats too simple for some.
Max Impact
says...
7:19pm Sat 5 Jan 13
SO can I pick the time and place I will even pay!
Sir Peter Pantsless the 3rd
says...
11:51pm Sat 5 Jan 13
Max Impact wrote:Let me guess Max...
Can I join you for a coffee?
SO can I pick the time and place I will even pay!
.
Tomassi's, by any chance?
Max Impact
says...
10:23am Sun 6 Jan 13
Carnabackable says...
10:17am Thu 3 Jan 13