Speech to Planning Committee regarding the Article 4 Direction (05.02.25)

 Agenda here: Agenda for Planning Committee on Wednesday, 5th February, 2025, 7.30 pm | Reigate and Banstead Borough Council

Firstly, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in getting Reigate and Banstead Council to this point where this is on the agenda tonight.

Thank you also to the residents in Merstham who signed the petition to save the shops in the local centre known as Nutfield Road – identified in paragraph 1.3, which definitely helped shine a light on what was going.

Thank you to the councillors who voted unanimously for my motion back in Sept 2023 to bring forward a Retails Need Survey.

And thank you to the council officers in Planning and Regulatory Services for delivering this report.

However, I do have mixed feelings about agenda item. I'm relieved to see that we are on track to protect our vital shops in our town and local centres with an Article 4 Direction. BUT, other councils started the process of saving their shops as early as 2021.

And, anyone that goes past the shops on Nutfield Rd in Merstham to see the loss of almost a whole parade of shops can only feel gutted.

I use the word almost, because the laundrette is still there, while all the other shops have been systematically converted into flats. Page 43 of your pack has the outline of just one unit opposite a parade of shops. That's the laundrette

Just to fill you in, the Planning Officer refused the token application to change the shop front, the landlord appealed, and the Secretary of State dismissed the appeal.

Laundrettes are unique in that they provide a service which cannot be easily replicated. The nearest laundrette from Merstham is 22 minutes away in Redhill. The Planning Inspector rightly dismissed the appeal.

I'm also thinking about Susan Wong, the owner of he The Oriental take away who tried her level best to avoid eviction.

I have one concern about this proposal, the fact that the type of Article 4 Direction recommended is a non-immediate form which can take at least 12 months to take effect. My concern is that the forthcoming consultation could alert retail landlords to push for a quick conversion. Could this happen?

Thank you