SKIPP Press Release (04/01/12) When the last shop closes

Once again one of the four supermarket giants is trying to flex its corporate muscle to the detriment of our town’s embattled small businesses.  As reported in the papers, supermarket giant Morrisons is attempting to force the closure of the hair salon adjacent to its Eastwood store so as to allow it to build an in store cafe.

The company, which controls the leases of the three shop units which links its store to the Loyal Toast pub in Western Approaches have refused to talk to the owner of the ‘Simply Scissors’ salon and instead seems bent on using bully boy tactics to force the business, which has operated for 23 years, out.

Local ward Councillor and Southend Council Cabinet member Mark Flewitt, a loyal customer of 15 years, has demanded that the decision on the application to convert the three units into a cafe be referred to the Council Development Control Committee rather than being left in the hands of planning officers.

Lets us hope that the Committee shows some back bone this time and actually stands up for the small businesses of our town, rather than capitulating in the face of the might of a corporate giant as it did over the Tesco B&Q planning application last year. When it came to that decision, all but one member of the committee voted in favour of the proposed giant Tesco store, despite all having expressed serious reservations and multiple concerns about the proposal.

When the last shop closes maybe we will learn.....

The SKIPP Committee

Patsy Link

Sheena Walker

Mark Sharp