Tag: retail

Barclays in Ludlow to close on August 26 leaving more than 250 customers without a local bank (updated)

Barclays in Ludlow to close on August 26 leaving more than 250 customers without a local bank (updated)

Customers of Barclays have received a letter today (20 May) stating that Barclays on King St Ludlow is to close on August 26 at 12:00pm. This bank doesn’t just serve Ludlow. It caters for a very broad hinterland. Having banks is one of the things that makes Ludlow town centre tick. People come to bank and then they shop. We have already seen the loss of HSBC, which is being converted into Specsavers. With the loss of Barclays, we will be down to three banks. Lloyds, Nationwide and NatWest. How long will those survive? Banks that close their branches say people should do their transactions online. Many people, particularly older people, are not comfortable with digital technology. There are also many businesses in Ludlow that deal with cash. Barclays says cash can be paid in at the Post Office. But the Post Office service in Ludlow is very poor. The Post Office counters in our two One Stop shops, part of the Tesco Group, often closed due to lack of staff. The closure of Barclays is yet another nail in the coffin of our high streets. Ludlow town centre is resilient. It has survived the trend towards shopping online. It…

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Tanc Barratt responds to my article on Golden Moments planning application

Tanc Barratt responds to my article on Golden Moments planning application

Yesterday evening, Tanc Barratt responding to article two days ago. who is proposing to convert 50 Broad Street into a town house leading to the closure of Golden Moments. The long established and popular business has not been able to find alternative location. And why should a business have to move because the new owner of the freehold doesn’t want it next door to him? Mr Barratt says in his response: “This planning application is not about closing a business, it is about adapting with the times.” The times are for more places to eat, drink and relax in town centres, not closing them down. Ludlow’s town centre has survived when so many others have fallen by the wayside. We still have good shops. A vibrant market. Lots of great places to eat. Places to live. What we don’t need are planning applications that will lead to businesses closing.

How to comment on the planning application to close Golden Moments on Broad Street

How to comment on the planning application to close Golden Moments on Broad Street

There is a lot of anger about the plans to force the very popular Golden Moments restaurant to close and for it to be converted back to a town house which it hasn’t been for more than seven decades. Many will wish to comment on the application. I would encourage you do so. You don’t need to know anything about planning. Just give your views. As a member of the Southern Planning Committee, I can reassure you that committee members and planning officers read all comments. To comment, you must be registered on Shropshire Council’s planning portal. Click this link and either register, or login if you have commented before. Then you need to find the application by clicking this link 22/01790/FUL or conducting a simple search for “Golden Moments”. Providing you are logged in, you can comment under public comments. Unless you are a heritage expert, you do not need to comment on the parallel application for listed building consent 22/01791/LBC. If the application for full planning permission is rejected then the listed building consent automatically falls.

Golden Moments threatened with closure (corrected post)

Golden Moments threatened with closure (corrected post)

After more than 20 years on Broad Street in Ludlow, Golden Moments is threatened with closure. An application has been submitted to convert the property into a house (22/01790/FUL; 22/01791/LBC). The application is from a neighbour, who owns the freehold on Golden Moments and town house next door. He wishes to return the streetscene “to a more quiet residential setting”. I am appalled by this application. Golden Moments is a popular venue. That does of course mean there will sometimes be noise of people arriving and leaving but it is not a raucous establishment. I can’t recall a complaint about noise or behaviour. What we can’t have is a town centre that takes a vow of silence at 6pm. Town centres should bustling places. They should have places to eat. Places to meet friends. Places to laugh. Places to enjoy good food. This type of application though which a property owner and neighbour seeks to change the character of the neighbourhood and destroy a successful business is unwelcome in Ludlow. I will be opposing it at every stage.

Blows for Ludlow as M&Co to close

Blows for Ludlow as M&Co to close

M&Co on the Market Square is to close in a month’s time. The adjacent building, the former George Inn which became PizzaExpress, has planning permission for a £2.2 million scheme by Oakman Inns and Restaurants to return the building to a public house (21/04064/FUL). The approved scheme included part of the back of house area of No 12 (M&Co) but rumours on social media that the pub will be expanded into the retail area are not correct. The M&Co area will remain in retail use.

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