Support for businesses hit by town regeneration
BUSINESSES being forced to move out of their home due to the regeneration of part of Nuneaton town centre are being offered help.
Town Hall leader councillor Kris Wilson said those having to move out of Bridge Street are being given assistance and, in some cases, compensation.
A number of businesses in parts of Bridge Street and Church Street received letters last year saying they would soon have to move and find new homes. Their units are set to be bulldozed as part of the ‘Bridge to Living’ project.
This forms part of the huge Transforming Nuneaton scheme and the affected businesses have until next month to move out. Some shops in Bridge Street have already closed and are boarded up.
Complete Home Furnishing moved to Abbeygate Shopping Centre and Keri-anns beauty shop has closed to operate as a market stall instead. Other businesses in the area are likely to start closing soon.
Councillor Keith Kondajor asked for reassurance about help for the affected businesses at a full council meeting. “The Bridge to Living project in principle seems like a great regeneration project, but I have two big concerns about how it is being progressed and these concerns are becoming larger,” he said.
“First, I am very concerned about the businesses being evicted, some of which are choosing or unable to keep trading in other units in Nuneaton. Secondly, I am very concerned about the actual design near the River Anker which, without the proposed upstream compensation measures working fully, would increase flood risk downstream in Weddington.
“Will the leader please update the council on the project and give details of progress on my two biggest concerns?”
Cllr Wilson responded by saying: “It is (the Bridge to Living) a fantastic opportunity to open up one of the great unused assets that Nuneaton has to offer - the River Anker - this version of opening up the Anker to create new residential and commercial space will help revitalise an area of town that is in desperate need of some TLC and, at times, can seem desolate.
“Together with other regeneration projects in the area, it offers a new future for our town centre. But regeneration does, unfortunately, mean that some businesses in the regeneration zone are being displaced.
“Wherever possible our officers are working hard to secure new opportunities for these businesses within the town centre so that they can continue to trade. But if we don’t act, the only certainty is that we will continue to manage the decline of Nuneaton town centre.
“As with Bedworth, I view this as completely unacceptable. For both our towns, we need to unlock their potential, which has been restricted for far too long. The Bridge to Living project will unlock Bridge Street and the George Eliot Memorial Gardens and breathe new life into the area.”
And on the flooding issue, Cllr Wilson said: “Work is continuing between our officers, Warwickshire County Council and other statutory consultees as part of the process, and other details will follow when they are available.” Cllr Kondakor asked for more information. He said: “I was expecting to have some details as to how you are looking after the businesses and the flood issues.” Cllr Wilson responded: “We are Looking at other units in the town centre, whether they (the businesses) can be incorporated into the new units.
“I have had consultations with businesses myself. Some of them are entitled, depending on the terms and conditions of their lease, to some compensation.”
He added that the flood risk plan was complex and further details are expected once the work has been completed.