East Herts Council finance boss ‘unlikely’ to reconsider plans to sell Havers Parade
The councillor balancing East Herts Council’s (EHC) books says he is “unlikely” to reconsider plans to sell a parade of shops in Bishop’s Stortford.
Last Tuesday (Oct 1) the authority’s cabinet paused the auction of the retail outlets known as Havers Parade after a plea from Central Ward councillors David Jacobs and Yvonne Estop.
The Labour pair said they were not opposed to the sale in principle but believed that the asset referred to in EHC documents as “Elizabeth Court, Havers Road, Bishop’s Stortford” should be sold on the open market through an agent.
The Green Party’s Cllr Carl Brittain, EHC’s executive member for financial sustainability, withdrew the property and Southern Maltings, Ware, from a list of six council land lots due to go under the hammer.
The council needs to raise around £6m to balance its books – including an overspend on the £30m new Hertford theatre BEAM.
Cllr Brittain told the Indie after the meeting on Tuesday: “In relation to the Elizabeth Road asset specifically, the reason for withdrawal was to allow time for further discussion with the ward councillors and to fully understand the concerns they had expressed to me, which were principally about the method of sale rather than the principle of sale. It is unlikely therefore that the principle of sale would be reviewed.”
Cllrs Jacobs and Estop want to know if the parade is to be sold as a development opportunity or management responsibility.
They said: “This parade of shops and the open space is at the heart of the Havers estate, and its loss would be seriously detrimental to the wellbeing of residents, many of whom avoid travelling into town when shopping or getting a takeaway.”
They have come up with an improvement plan for the whole area – including the nearby Dean House businesses and the area around Tesco Express.
Havers Parade is currently home to Dawn to Dusk convenience store, Posh Paws grooming parlour, Lee Garden Chinese takeaway and Fish Inn Kebab fast food.
The Labour councillors’ proposals include new tenants and room for existing businesses to expand; improved security for the three flats above; repaving the forecourt and installing new street furniture; new parking spaces; and redeveloping garages for two-storey flats, workspaces or a community workshop.
They also want to create a green space with a children’s play area and a pitch for an ice cream van.
At Dean House, home to Havers Lane Supermarket, a launderette, barber’s and coffee shop, the councillors recommend path and drainage improvements. They also want a zebra crossing on Havers Lane and the removal of a fence outside Tesco Express.
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