15th March 2014. Sheratons Plans Confirmed.
Vic Grewal, owner of Chorleywood Budgens, holds the lease of the building which is to be called The Village Buzz, and the interior is to be shared by three parties running three separate concerns.
There will be a stylish family friendly Village Buzz Lounge Bar offering drinks and a Bites and Delights menu.
Original partner The Hive will run a multi-purpose and flexible community centre from the premises and will work with local community groups and skilled individuals.
Mrs Moore’s Vintage Store will occupy a section of the building.
The Village Buzz opens at 5-6 Sheraton House, Lower Road, WD3 5LH at Easter. Opening hours will be consistent with similar businesses in the area. The Hive activities start in April
THE HONEYPOT PLANS FOR SHERATONS BUILDING
Vic Grewal of Budgens is ready to take over the lease of Sheraton’s building and makes a statement about his plans
“We are submitting a revised license application for The Honeypot – the business that will take over the ground floor of the existing Sheraton’s building on Lower Road, Chorleywood. We are now closer to finalising plans for this ground floor retail space and are considering options including organic, health and allergy free grocery products, and a small ice-cream, dessert and savoury food counter with a range of coffee, teas and a juice bar and early evening alcohol licence. The original licence application made in relation to The Honeypot was submitted to cover any occasional one off uses which may arise, although trading hours are expected to be in line with our other local business, Budgens. The timing of the submission of our license application is in line our intention to be open in early autumn 2013.
We have worked with the community and local PCSO’s here in Chorleywood for the last eight years and have listened and responded to what our customers and local residents have been saying to us throughout that time. We are keen to work with the Community and give something back to the local area and can do this through working with The Hive which is proposing to sublease the basement of Sheratons building from us. The Hive will function and be run independently from The Honeypot.”
READERS’ RESPONSE
Dear Editor
I read with interest the somewhat limited update regarding the Honey Pot proposition for the retail outlet of Sheraton House and the timing of this following recent issues that have come to light.
I feel along with a number of other local residents, that it is time the wider community were informed of the proposal and the potential impact on the village. Especially following the recent “Shock” application for an all day Alcohol and Entertainment licence.
Maybe your magazine could take this opportunity to publish a detailed editorial covering all the proposals and comments from all sides.
For example:
Why does the owner of Budgens need a further prime retail outlet in the village?
What other companies were interested in the lease?
Do we really need more coffee shops?
Is it healthy for one individual to own so much retail space on such a small village high street?
It seems the community angle is being portrayed very strongly, yet wonder if Mr Grewel even lives in the village, and how many local residents are currently employed?
Why does he need any type of Alcohol or Entertainment licence for the Honey Pot?
What activities are planned for the basement Hive project?
How will the Hive be staffed?
Is the Hive financially sustainable?
If the Hive doesn’t work, what does Mr Grewel envisage using the basement for?
It is becoming very clear that the team behind this project have under estimated local residents feelings, and have not made all the facts available to the wider community. The recent licence application was made during a busy holiday period when many residents were on holiday, which in itself was somewhat suspicious.
Without clear communication and inclusion of all the facts, people will inevitably come to,their own conclusions, which may not be correct, and will undoubtably assume the worst.
Sheratons is a key retail outlet in the village with residents living in very close vicinity. They need to be taken into consideration along with the wider Chorleywood community who use and support our local retailers and want to retain a diverse and peaceful village centre.
This should be free from potentially rowdy groups, maybe from outside of the village, who may be under the influence of drink and looking to cause trouble.
Regards
Mike
Dear Editor,
I read with great concern the very misleading in my view update regarding the Honey Pot proposal to take over the current Sheraton’s business.
As a local resident and one of a very small number who were made aware of the original planning application by mr Grewal concerning his proposal for The honey Pot, I feel bound to make everyone aware of some extended facts and subsequent concerns we have with Mr Grewal’s plans and in particular our shock at the news that Mr Grewal had originally applied for a 7am until midnight alcohol and entertainment licence which would include loud music and dancing during the majority of hours every day of the week.
For this reason I would be grateful if Chorleywood news could publish a fuller overview of the proposals as well as the views of local chorleywood residents whom Mr Grewal has certainly not consulted, contrary to what has been implied in the article.
II feel very strongly that this update had the potential to grossly mislead residents of Chorleywood.
The article went into great positive length about the benefits that Mr Grewal’s proposal might bring and appears to infer substantial support from the community about it but has omitted a number of very key issues that were contained in his initial since rejected application that if resubmitted would have a substantial and far reaching impact on the Chorleywood community.
Mr Grewal’ s proposal which was rejected had included a proposal to operate a bar, music and dancing license from 7 am until midnight 7 days a week.
The secondary proposal for the Hive to sublet from Mr Grewal the basement by day includes proposals for youth activities including events for school children and therefore the proposal would have seen children and teenagers having to walk through a licensed bar and music area in order to access the basement area of The Hive.
· Mr Grewal has not consulted with Chorleywood residents regarding the proposals contrary to the impression of the article
· The original planning application was only communicated to a very small number of residents therefore businesses and residents still in the immediate area but opposite the project proposed had no idea of the proposal that would cause out of hours activity and disturbance
· The police force have not apparrently been consulted and have locally expressed concerns over the proposals and it should be noted that the PCSO cover finishes at 10pm some two hours before closing time was proposed in Mr Grewal;s original application
· The police’s ability for rapid response to Chorleywood is served from Abbots Langley and not Rickmansworth any more therefore response times to any concerns are likely to be longer
· Mr Grewal is the owner of the Budgen’s franchise in the village. The Sheraton building has attracted purportedly attention by more than one potential major supermarket chain and therefore we believe Mr Grewal’s strategy may be primarily concerned with anti-competition.
· School Children visiting the Hive would need to walk through the Bar in order to access the basement venue
· We are advised that once a music and alcohol license is granted, there is no limit to the days it can be used therefore in the opinion of local residents it will only be a matter of time before regular daily events with loud music is experienced.
· The adjacent area of Sheratons has a substantial residential mix including the elderly and vulnerable which could create very real risk of issues impacting the ongoing health and wellbeing of residents if disturbance and late night music becomes a routine feature in this central meeting point.
The first licence application was made during the school holidays and we believe designed to during a quiet time when residents would be away or distracted.
In closing I believe that Mr Grewal is not a resident of Chorleywood and he and his family would therefore be personally unaffected by his proposals which are designed to see off competition to his primary business and would result in potentially the encouragement and ease of heavy drinking and music into the early hours of the morning. He has not taken into account that the immediate area has a high density of quality residential dwellings and elderly people who are already becoming very distressed at the potential proposals and thereby impacting their health. Business needs to work in unison with the residents and broader community and in harmony with village life. Whilst we would all be supportive to see a thriving business venture, this should not be at the cost of the health, wellbeing and safety of residents who own their homes in the area nor increase the risk and accessibility of alcohol and the legitimization of this to young children who would have no option but to pass through a bar area to access The Hive basement venue.
We have learnt that the council appears only able to act if the public come forward with their legitimate objections and all too frequently we have an opinion but don’t pick up our pens to act. Therefore I would be grateful to see a more balanced article by Chorleywood news to more truly consult for public opinion including and especially those residents whom would be directly affected and in the hope that Mr Grewal might clarify and ensure his proposal is better developed to achieve a win win and no late night drinking/music solution.
Liz, Local Chorleywood Resident.
What a load of nonsense – to clarify, it’s not a nightclub, it’s a coffee shop where people will be able to get a glass of wine in the evenings. Liz’s comment that “it will only be a matter of time before regular daily events with loud music is experienced.” is pure scaremongering and will be shown to be untrue in due course
Barry
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