Former pub squat gets new life as a hi-fi store
A former pub in London Road beset by problems from squatters has finally opened as a hi-fi and TV store.
National home entertainment retailer Richer Sounds has opened its 50th store on the site, which until late last year was The Porter Butt pub.
Richer Sounds opened its doors on Saturday. It had been keen to open sooner, but a planning wrangle and the arrival of squatters forced the company to wait.
Members of the Black Cat Social Centre moved on to the site in April, delaying work at the store by a month while Richer Sounds waited for them to be evicted.
Lengthy negotiations with Bath and North Somerset Council over planning consent also prevented the retailer from cracking on with work.
"The squatters did hold us back a bit," said store manager James Dawes. "They were holding movie nights when they were here, which is ironic given what we sell.
"A month delay is a lot when you are trying to get a shop open. We were very keen to get them out and went through the proper channels. It was a great relief when they were gone."
In May the chairman of the London Road and Snow Hill Partnership, Alex Schlesinger, criticised the council for treating the area "as a road to somewhere else".
The store, which has 12 car parking spaces and offers repairs as well as sales, currently employs six people, but Mr Dawes expects to take on more staff as the business settles in.
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by Kirsten, Bath
Thursday, August 26 2010, 11:11AM
“Fair enough, Fof. I have to confess I was pretty amazed to discover that the Human Rights act had to be taken into consideration over a breach of planning rules, but, so it appears, tis true. It's a funny old world.”
by Dave, Larkhall
Wednesday, August 25 2010, 10:52PM
“I so love this story. Tomorrow I'm starting to construct a massive chicken farm in my front garden. Each hen house will be equipped with the latest digi sound systems and wide screen tele's.
If it can be done at Woolley and London Road without the necessary permissions..............
Orders for eggs can be sent by e-mail via the Chronic Sub Ed.”
by FOF, Bath
Wednesday, August 25 2010, 8:07PM
“Kirsten,
I am not, as you suggest, trying to put you in your place, but trying to understand how planning and the Human Rights Act are linked. I 'm sure this wasn't the intent of it, hence why I think Parliment are trying to clarify.
I still find it hard to believe that a breach of planning / refusal of planning etc could be challenged by the HRA (and this is only my own belief system on what should and shouldn't be allowed). There is also the question under this example as to whether an Individual would be able to use the HRA and use this as a precedent when the application is by a company or on behalf of.
I guess this is why Lawyers get rich as there are always many different ways of interpretating things. For example I could take offence at the rather dismissive nature of your comments - if you had bothered, In Fact, vain effort, whereas I am merely curious and pulling on other people's knowledge or experience to aid my understanding.”
by Kirsten, Bath
Tuesday, August 24 2010, 10:48PM
“I was involved with a complaint against an enforcement - the Human Rights Act works exactly as I have stated. If you allow one person to get away with a breach of the law, as Richer Sounds have breached then law, then you cannot act against others.
Call me cynical if you will, but your posts seem more designed to be a vain effort to put me in what you see as my place than to address what has gone on illegally at the Porter Butt.”
by FOF, Bath
Tuesday, August 24 2010, 9:15PM
“Kirsten, if you just pronounce then I think you can expect to be quetioned for a justification. I had googled what you had proclaimed but did not interpret it in the same way as you have. There is a link between Art 6 and Planning but it appears to me that the system of planning meets the act and as such if the planning system is implemented correctly then an indivudual would not have the right to complain. http://www.parliament.uk/briefingpapers/commons/lib/research/briefings/snsc-01295.pdf”