Leathermarket on its last legs
QUESTIONS are being raised about the future of a chunk of Edenbridge town centre following a mass exodus by local businesses.
The town's Leathermarket has lost its second-to-last trader because developers are not telling people their plans for the area.
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NEW PREMISES: Umesh Saini pictured on Wednesday morning outside D&M News and Toys, which has moved to Edenbridge High Street due to uncertainty over the future of the old Leathermarket site (below)
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NEW PREMISES: Umesh Saini pictured on Wednesday morning outside D&M News and Toys, which has moved to new premises at the top end of Edenbridge High Street due to uncertainty over the future of the old Leathermarket site where it was previously based AH0302101/1
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A notice in the window of Tom Bell's Fish and Chips shop at the Leathermarket in Edenbridge on Tuesday PV0202102/39
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A notice in the window of Tom Bell's Fish and Chips shop at the Leathermarket in Edenbridge on Tuesday PV0202102/40
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Tom Bell's Fish and Chips shop at the Leathermarket in Edenbridge on Tuesday PV0202102/69
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Tom Bell's Fish and Chips shop at the Leathermarket in Edenbridge on Tuesday PV0202102/59
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The Leathermarket in Edenbridge on Tuesday PV0202102/53
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The Leathermarket in the Edenbridge High Street on Tuesday PV0202102/49
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The Leathermarket in Edenbridge on Tuesday PV0202102/46
This is the view of Umesh Saini, who packed up D&M News and Toys and transferred it to the top of the High Street. He said the move was due to the "uncertainty" of his future at the site.
The area is now only populated by the fish and chip shop Tom Bell – which has been forced to put up signs saying it is not shutting up shop for good.
Mr Saini said: "There was too much speculation about what they were going to do with the site.
"Somebody said they thought it would be a block of flats.
"At the first opportunity I thought 'Right, that's it'. I am not looking back either, this (new premises) has been great.
"The area was very run down, every time I would open my shutters it would look quite depressing."
The shopkeeper also said he had only been offered a five-year lease when his ran out, and that he had been seeking a 25-year agreement.
The area, which was once home to a florist, launderette and a host of other firms, is owned by the Freshwater group based in London.
Peter Bolton, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, spoke to the Courier about his concerns.
"It has always been an eyesore – it is just a concrete block," he said.
"It looks like Beirut with it all boarded up. They need to hurry up and decide what they are going to do with it."
Mark Jenner, company secretary for the Freshwater Group, refused to say what type of development was being considered for the site.
He said: "This is a potential development site for us and we do have experts looking at it.
"We have had people looking at this as a project for a little while to see if we can get more value.
"Edenbridge is a difficult, small town to make an investment with, it doesn't have the population or the footfall.
"With the best will in the world it is not a busy place, but we would like it to be."
What do you think about the state of the Leathermarket? Comment on this story online at www.thisiskent.co.uk/edenbridge
4 Comments
by Paul Hogan, Cowden
Saturday, February 13 2010, 10:01PM
“Ugly as this building is, Tom Bell's fish and chips is a tremendous amenity to the town. The closure of this business would be a tradgedy foe Edenbridge.”
by Fred, Polegate
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 7:51PM
“The then Parish Council should never have allowed these buildings to be erectedin the first place. The buildings that were there before were in keeping as is The building where the Chocolate Box is still,everyone at the time thought it was a travesty that the old buildings were destroyed without any thought.”
by J, Edenbridge
Monday, February 08 2010, 10:17PM
“I appreciate this land is owned by a private company but what a wonderful opportunity for the local council to approach them to try and have some input into what could be created so they make their profit & perhaps the town gets a wonderful new area as a centrepiece for everyone to enjoy & admire & possibly bring people into Edenbridge. This development was ugly when it was first built so I hope the same mistake isn't made twice.”
by Doug Forster, Edenbridge
Monday, February 08 2010, 12:09PM
“YES, it's time this eye sore of a building was pulled down, but please make sure the replacement building is designed in character with the rest of the existing neighbouring property.”