Co-op: No plans to meet over town ‘gem’
THE Co-op owners of a deteriorating Hungerford High Street “gem” have snubbed calls for a meeting over its future.
It is now 20 years since the Queen Anne building at 15 and 15a was allowed to start deteriorating.
In 2012, after years of wrangling, the town council secured an undertaking in principle from the building’s owner, the Co-op, that the structure should be renovated.
Former mayor Martin Crane had been pushing for a community meeting to resolve the situation and to explore the availability of grants to help with renovation.
But in a letter, the management has replied: “We are currently in the process of reviewing our options for the property and how best to bring the site back into full use.
“Whilst the future use of the building is being considered, please be assured that anything we do will be in full consultation with the local authorities for any consents that we require.
“As part of this process, we have also conducted a review [of] the property to ensure the property remains wind and watertight.”
The response added: “We have no immediate plans for a community meeting yet, but I do hope you will continue to follow our progress going forward.”
Now Mr Crane, who has described the property as a “gem” of a building, has fired back: “Many thanks for this response, which is only a repeat of those received from the Co-op for over a decade with no plans revealed.
“The fact that you have no plans for a community meeting is surely against the mantra of your company as a cooperative organisation
“The time has come to put into practice the words of your chief executive and act now to reclaim this fine property.
“Hungerford awaits action without resorting to more political and media pressure.”
The time has come to put into practice the words of your chief executive and act now to reclaim this fine property