A Ruddington business owner has learned with shock and dismay that she will lose her livelihood if proposals to redevelop her historic premises are given the go-ahead by Rushcliffe planners.
Jane Hallam’s ‘Hair Flair’ salon is thought now to be the village’s oldest hairdresses and has been at 25A Easthorpe Street for around half a century. Mrs Hallam has rented the unit for the last twenty five years, since she took over the business. It’s a successful and popular salon used by many people from our village and beyond – gents as well as ladies.
An application has been made to Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) by Mr J Cross to convert 25 and 25A Easthorpe Street back into two purely residential properties. The plans have been drawn up on behalf of the applicant by Covest Architecture of Woodborough. Currently the front door of number 25 leads to an upstairs flat spanning both properties whilst the salon occupies all the ground floor of number 25A and the downstairs rear of number 25. The application would see them reverting to two individual dwellings with a rear extension added to create extra space.
These proposals follow a recent redevelopment of business properties nearby into homes – which involved closing another hairdressers & chiropodists, and causing the relocation of a photographic studio. The most surprising part of the current application is that Mrs Hallam only found out about it by chance – when John Noble from The Three Crowns pub next door asked her when she’d be moving out?!
Jane says: “My successful local business brings a great deal to the local community and I’m sure a lot of people would be upset if I had to close, especially since the Parish Council seem to be so vocally supportive of the importance of shopping locally and everything that local businesses bring to our community in Ruddington.”
Rushcliffe Borough Council has since apologised to Mrs Hallam for not notifying her about the application sooner – and extended its deadline for comments on these plans.
Leigh Wylie-Jenkinson, who alerted us to Mrs Hallam’s plight, says: “Jane really doesn’t want to move – or rather, should I say, can’t afford to move. Her late husband bought the business for her some years ago, so she will be so sad to leave it. I think the village has enough current housing applications going on. It’s such a shame to close and lose a much loved and thriving business for the sake of a couple more houses.”
Village resident and customer Sylvia Sanderson adds: “The hairdresser is more than just a business as it meets the needs socially of many older people. It would be a very sad day if this business had to close.” You can find more reaction to the news of its possible closure >>HERE<<.
Despite the public outcry, Ruddington Parish Council decided not to object to the application. However, Councillor David Hall explains: “The PC were not aware that this could mean the closure of this valuable community business when not objecting. They were also not aware of the lack of notice by the owner and RBC of this application. If they had known these circumstances their decision may have been different.”
Rushcliffe Conservation Officer James Bate also had no objection in planning terms: “The proposal would preserve the special architectural and historic character and appearance of the conservation area and the contribution this short terrace row makes to that character, achieving the ‘desirable’ objective described in section 72 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990” he said.
Despite Thursday 8th August still being shown as the consultation expiry date, RUDDINGTON.info has been informed that comments are still being accepted by RBC until Tuesday August 27th, in light of this new information. You can see all the documents associated with this planning proposal [19/01515/FUL] and make your own views known via the RBC Planning Portal by the revised deadline >>HERE<<.
