Gardening store might not get cafe after all
AFTER successfully campaigning for years to be allowed to have a cafe at his site, Stan Brouard managing director Rodney Brouard said he might not create one after all.
The Landes du Marche base was historically used for horticulture, but has housed retail for decades.
Stan Brouard has been based on the site for 30 years and has always sold items.
An appeal in 2014 ruled that the site was classed for use for office, light industrial, storage and distribution.
While the retail use had gone on for so long the planners could not take enforcement action, neither could the owners of Stan Brouard carry out further developments such as a cafe.
Only once politicians stepped in did the situation change.
Next week the planners will introduce certificates of lawful use, which give the opportunity to bring land that does not have official backing under planning control.
This would finally allow a cafe to be created on the site.
But Mr Brouard said after so many years of fighting for the cafe, he was not sure he wanted it any more.
‘I don’t know if we are going to do it,’ he said.
‘It’s been so many years.
‘Things have moved on now, things have changed. Do we want the hassle now? We will see.’
He noted that many companies were finding it very hard to find suitable staff to work in the hospitality trade and is worried that he will face the same problem if he creates the cafe.
However, he confirmed the company was already gearing up to apply for a certificate of lawful use.
‘I am pleased,’ he said.
‘We have been working on the certificate for a couple of weeks and we will be putting something through.’
To be immune from enforcement action the unlawful use had to have been taking place continuously for more than 10 years, without the planners being aware of it, or for four years since the authority became aware of the use.
Applications will cost £250.
