Peter Stewart

a county council issue, it may be a parish council issue, which is below borough council, or it may even be a national issue. It's complicated, isn't it? So look out for details on how you can have your voice heard during the course of the week. Now, let me turn to what Andy Nash was saying, and he was speaking from the Belfry. He's the man in charge there.

a county council issue, it may be a parish council issue, which is below borough council, or it may even be a national issue. It's complicated, isn't it? So look out for details on how you can have your voice heard during the course of the week. Now, let me turn to what Andy Nash was saying, and he was speaking from the Belfry. He's the man in charge there.

Now, we know already, don't we, about the Marks and Spencers pulling out. Again, just to refresh your memory, they had 117 years remaining on their lease, and it was a profitable store. But several years ago, Marks & Spencer's decided, as their long-term strategy, that they were going to be pulling out of medium-sized stores.

Now, we know already, don't we, about the Marks and Spencers pulling out. Again, just to refresh your memory, they had 117 years remaining on their lease, and it was a profitable store. But several years ago, Marks & Spencer's decided, as their long-term strategy, that they were going to be pulling out of medium-sized stores.

So the Belfry had to go, along with other ones in neighbouring towns as well. Epsom has been saved, for example, but Crawley has not been saved either. Already reported on the Planet Rygate podcast, how Marks and Spencer's are said to be looking for another store, possibly a larger food store somewhere in the Reigate Redhill area. So have a little think about where that could be.

So the Belfry had to go, along with other ones in neighbouring towns as well. Epsom has been saved, for example, but Crawley has not been saved either. Already reported on the Planet Rygate podcast, how Marks and Spencer's are said to be looking for another store, possibly a larger food store somewhere in the Reigate Redhill area. So have a little think about where that could be.

Well, to my mind, there's a police station site, which is up for grabs at the moment because nothing much is going on there at the moment anyway. That aside, Andy at the Belfry was saying that they are actively seeking new tenants for the two levels of that store.

Well, to my mind, there's a police station site, which is up for grabs at the moment because nothing much is going on there at the moment anyway. That aside, Andy at the Belfry was saying that they are actively seeking new tenants for the two levels of that store.

As we've reported in the past, particularly they would want to have one business that would go into both units at the same time, because otherwise there's going to be a delay and a huge...

As we've reported in the past, particularly they would want to have one business that would go into both units at the same time, because otherwise there's going to be a delay and a huge...

cost because they'll have to take out the escalators there's wiring there's smoke alarm and sprinkler systems security systems there's access to other parts for example the basement and delivery areas which they'd have to subdivide as well either the belfry would have to do that or it'd have to be done by the new tenant so obviously they're trying to avoid that they have had quite a bit of interest from various organizations parties businesses groups

cost because they'll have to take out the escalators there's wiring there's smoke alarm and sprinkler systems security systems there's access to other parts for example the basement and delivery areas which they'd have to subdivide as well either the belfry would have to do that or it'd have to be done by the new tenant so obviously they're trying to avoid that they have had quite a bit of interest from various organizations parties businesses groups

who want to go in, but ideally they're after both levels being taken by the same company at the same time. What happens in the meantime? Well, in the meantime, Marks and Spencers are still paying the Belfry for... Those two levels, they've got 117 years remaining on their lease. So arguably, what the Belfry could do is just keep it empty and they'd still get the money.

who want to go in, but ideally they're after both levels being taken by the same company at the same time. What happens in the meantime? Well, in the meantime, Marks and Spencers are still paying the Belfry for... Those two levels, they've got 117 years remaining on their lease. So arguably, what the Belfry could do is just keep it empty and they'd still get the money.

But of course, the problem with doing that is they wouldn't get the footfall. Now, Marks and Spencer's, to my mind, are reckoning that... If, as and when, the Belfry has somebody in one or two of those floors and associated basements and delivery areas and so on, then they will be able to surrender their lease. But until that happens, Marks & Spencers still paying.

But of course, the problem with doing that is they wouldn't get the footfall. Now, Marks and Spencer's, to my mind, are reckoning that... If, as and when, the Belfry has somebody in one or two of those floors and associated basements and delivery areas and so on, then they will be able to surrender their lease. But until that happens, Marks & Spencers still paying.

It kind of, as a personal opinion, seems a bit of a false economy from Marks & Spencers. Surely you would have kept that going. Because it was a profitable store, and then you would still be making money, but you'd say, okay, you'd make it be known that it was up for grabs, that you'd like to surrender, you'd like to sell that lease on to another company, but still stay in there at the meantime.

It kind of, as a personal opinion, seems a bit of a false economy from Marks & Spencers. Surely you would have kept that going. Because it was a profitable store, and then you would still be making money, but you'd say, okay, you'd make it be known that it was up for grabs, that you'd like to surrender, you'd like to sell that lease on to another company, but still stay in there at the meantime.

Anyway... In reality, there's not going to be anything in there before Christmas in the Marks & Spencers site. Now, every other shop unit has a contract with the lawyers. In other words, if there are any shop units which are empty, apart from M&S, in the Belfry, they will be...

Anyway... In reality, there's not going to be anything in there before Christmas in the Marks & Spencers site. Now, every other shop unit has a contract with the lawyers. In other words, if there are any shop units which are empty, apart from M&S, in the Belfry, they will be...