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Chislehurst Town Team Update – as at 17th October 2017

Oct 17, 2017

Here’s the latest round up of developments and changes in and around the high street.

HIGH STREET BUSINESSES:-

Bank Closures

  • The former Nat West building is now under offer. I recently met with the prospective new owner to discuss their plans for the premises. I fed back on the findings from the surveys we have done over the last few years as to what local residents would like to see.

  • Santander – is now closed. Santander’s agents GL Hearn tell me they will start the formal marketing campaign once the branch has been fully decommissioned.

  • I wrote two articles on the closures of local banks that are on the VisitChislehurst website.

 

Other High Street Changes

  • 9 High Street (Gusto) –Gusto opened at 5pm on Thursday, 17th August and has been warmly received. It plans to change the front part of the restaurant into a casual bar area. It has kindly hosted the last two of our monthly Chislehurst Business Group meetings.

  • 27 High Street (CrossEyes) – The shop has been closed for a good few weeks. There is a notice stuck on the window saying it is not closed but they are operating on an appointment basis for the time being.

 

  • 49 High Street (formerly Davina’s). Eleven months on from signing the lease, kfh estate agents (who plan to move from their current premises into this space) do not appear to be in any hurry to do so. Sadly, the empty shop now blots this part of the High Street and I have had to take down posters that have been flyposted. KFH tell me they “remain fully committed to Chislehurst” and have said they will come back to me on the likely timing for 49 High Street.

  • 65 High Street (formerly Kent Lock & Shoe Service; corner of Willow Grove) – I remain very disappointed at our inability to get any progress whatsoever with regard to this derelict building.

 

  • 67 High Street (Ty 8) – Really sad to report that yet another business is set for closure in Chislehurst. The building occupied by Ty8 since 2007 is now up for a new tenant. Whilst not particularly appealing from the outside, the food had good to great reviews and the restaurant had a regular clientele. We believe the closure is due to a significant increase in the rent which is being advertised in the particulars as £39,000 pa. Rates are c. £12,232 pa. When people ask us why we don’t have more independents in Chislehurst, this may explain why. Details at http://www.hummerstone.co.uk/property/commercial-restaurant-for-sale-on-high-street-br7/humme-000394/1

 

  • 85 High Street (Age UK) – Along with the Chislehurst Society, I am in discussion with Age UK & their representatives about possible plans to redevelop the site. As a CTT we feel strongly that any redevelopment should provide an attractive frontage to the High Street. We are also actively exploring options to create a vehicle exit onto the High Street despite having had our proposal rejected by Sainsbury’s HO. We have suggested that the possibility of converting the long term empty upper floors of Sainsbury’s (which are now in part boarded up) into residential units should be actively explored.

 

  • Library redevelopment – I remain in close contact with the agent. I am pleased to report that work continues behind the scenes to progress the re-development of Chislehurst Library. As soon as I am able to I will provide an update as to what is happening. I am hopeful that will be in the not too distant future!
  • The new Co-op at 1-3 Whitehorse Hill is expected to open on 6th
  • 21 Park Road (formerly The Little Computer Shop) – The previous agents told me the owner was going to apply for change of use but I now see it has been marketed by Baxter Philips and is under offer. I spoke to them and they advise they managed to find a tenant very quickly and it is due to complete for commercial use in the next few days. They tell me it is someone already in Chislehurst. The rent is £8000 pa exclusive. Details at http://baxterphilips.co.uk/property-search/?&propertytype=retail&location=chislehurst

BELMONT PARADE BUSINESSES:-

  • 2 Belmont Parade – Sadly what was Select continues to remain a long term empty shop and the target for flyposting. Attempts to engage with the owner have regrettably been unsuccessful.

 

  • 12, Belmont Parade – A warm welcome to Deva Yoga which opened on Belmont Parade on 2nd

 

  • The Gordon Arms – we understand this is under new management with plans to undergo refurbishment at the end of the year.

ROYAL PARADE BUSINESSES:-

There are now 4 vacant premises in Royal Parade: La Belle Femme, Higgs Butchers, With Love & Annabel’s.

 

  • Although the application for 3 Royal Parade (Annabels) (16/05237) for a change of use from A1 (retail) to A2 (financial and professional services) was granted back in the summer there is no sign of a new occupier at present.

 

TRAFFIC & PARKING

  • The Willow Grove junction remains a priority for us. See Age UK above.
  • I still haven’t been able to get any further information from LBB about possible changes to parking arrangements outside shopping parades such as Walden Road, and will keep on trying. 

TREES & PLANTING

 

The tree outside Champion Wines was felled in June. Apparently, it was bending into the road after bad weather. I have long been concerned about the untidy structure of the tree pit and the fact that it is regularly driven over by refuse lorries, delivery vehicles etc. Following a meeting I attended with LBB officers on 21 September, I am pleased to advise that the tree pit will be reduced in size and configured away from the turning point at Camden Grove. Higher edgings will also be employed in order to discourage vehicular contact. The tree will be replaced this planting season (ref: 3520055).

Whilst on the High Street, LBB also agreed to plant a tree and bolster the edgings on the unoccupied tree pit outside JDM and to replace the dead tree outside Paper Lane (which is under guarantee). All 3 trees will be planted between November and March.

 

EVENTS

A reminder that the many events taking place in Chislehurst are all on the VisitChislehurst and Chislehurst Society’s websites and social media and often on the High Street noticeboards.  If you have a local community event to promote, do let us have details so that we can add it.

We are always looking for people to help us organise events. Let us know if you can help.

Tickets for the very popular Pumpkin Hunt on Friday 27th October are sold out.

The Christmas lights switch on in the High Street will be on Saturday, 2nd December. There will a variation to the lights this year which we hope you will love.

Chislehurst Clean Up Days

The Chislehurst Society organises regular clean up sessions. If you can help, meet at the Old Chapel Car Park (Queens Passage, behind Go Travel) at 10am. Litter pickers and bin-bags provided. Refreshments and cakes served by way of thank you!

  • Sunday, 26th November 17

 

FARMERS’ MARKET DATES –

POLICE MATTERS

Representatives of the community continue to meet at the Chislehurst Community Advisory Panel meetings to discuss local issues of concern regarding crime and anti social behaviour.  If you are interested in attending or have an issue you wish raised, please email me. The next meeting has not yet been set but we hope to hold it before Christmas.

 

THE TOWN TEAM

Can you help – If you have got this far then you must have a real interest in what is going on in Chislehurst!  If you would like to play a part, even in a very small way, or maybe you have some great ideas you want to share, then please get in touch as we would love to hear from you. 

 

Alison Stammers, Chair Chislehurst Town Team.

alison@VisitChislehurst.org.uk    Follow the Town Team on Twitter @ChisTownTeam

Disclaimer – The Chislehurst Town Team (CTT) is a group of volunteers who give freely of their time for the benefit of Chislehurst. Although care has been taken to ensure the accuracy, completeness and reliability of the information provided in this report, the author and CTT assume no responsibility therefore nor for opinions offered. The user of the information agrees that the information is subject to change without notice. The author and the CTT assume no responsibility for the consequences of use of such information, nor for any infringement of third party intellectual property rights which may result from its use. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR OR THE CTT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGE RESULTING FROM, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OF THE INFORMATION. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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