‘Heritage’ pledge in Bacup shop front row

4:00pm Thursday 6th September 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Peter Magill, Chief reporter

COUNCIL bosses have hit back in a row over security shutters after a Bacup takeaway boss claimed he was being driven out of business.

An ongoing battle is being waged between shopkeepers and town hall officials, across the borough, over ‘unauthorised’ roller shutters.

And after being fined £2,000, with £450 costs, Shazad Iqbal, owner of Chixy Chicken in Union Street, said he only acted out of fears for his premises’ safety.

But council licensing head Tracy Brzozowski said Mr Iqbal was given three months to comply with an enforcement notice.

She added: “The council is committed to working with local shop owners to seek out the best solutions for each area.

“Bacup has great potential for regeneration based on the strong historical character of the buildings.

“The council is working with businesses, residents groups and councillors to put together a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a £2million scheme that would enable grants to be given to property owners in central Bacup to support reinstatement of historical architectural features and strengthen and rebuild that special character. Shop fronts will be a part of this”.

Mr Iqbal said council officials should accept that Bacup had a vandalism problem and be more flexible in their approach to dealing with the problem.

Security shutters which have already been in place for four years are not affected by the council policy, which favours internal or lattice-style shutters.

Comments (9)

5:40pm Thu 6 Sep 12

spendmymoneywisely says...

Do all suppliers of shutters stock a variety of the sort which would satisfy the Council's requirements?. If they don't then the Council would appear to be risking censure for seeming to direct trade to just a handful of suppliers or manufacturers. Do the preferred design cost substantially more than the 'normal' shutters?. If so then it behoves the Council to award subsidies.
Do all suppliers of shutters stock a variety of the sort which would satisfy the Council's requirements?. If they don't then the Council would appear to be risking censure for seeming to direct trade to just a handful of suppliers or manufacturers. Do the preferred design cost substantially more than the 'normal' shutters?. If so then it behoves the Council to award subsidies. spendmymoneywisely

9:16pm Thu 6 Sep 12

buck fuzzby says...

What would happen if all the surrounding shops had the type of shutters fitted to their premises which were of the same exact type that Mr Iqbal fitted to his shop front ? but, they were fitted before the 4 year limit was introduced,
would Mr Iqbal still have to remove the shutters, and be the odd one out ?
What would happen if all the surrounding shops had the type of shutters fitted to their premises which were of the same exact type that Mr Iqbal fitted to his shop front ? but, they were fitted before the 4 year limit was introduced, would Mr Iqbal still have to remove the shutters, and be the odd one out ? buck fuzzby

10:02pm Thu 6 Sep 12

Doug Spencer says...

Sick of saying this, Bacup looks a mess because of the shutters all over the place, instead of a small market town, it looks like Cheetham Hill. There are wrought iron railings fitted to some of the shops on Yorkshire street and on Beauty Culture. These provide adequate protection and they do not look out of place in an Edwardian town centre.
I agree with the council's stance on shutters and have wondered why ALL the shutters have not been removed.
As to compensation or a contribution from the council towards shutters, let us remember, it is NOT council money but MY and other council tax payers. Should we be expected to subsidise a business?..... I think not!!
Sick of saying this, Bacup looks a mess because of the shutters all over the place, instead of a small market town, it looks like Cheetham Hill. There are wrought iron railings fitted to some of the shops on Yorkshire street and on Beauty Culture. These provide adequate protection and they do not look out of place in an Edwardian town centre. I agree with the council's stance on shutters and have wondered why ALL the shutters have not been removed. As to compensation or a contribution from the council towards shutters, let us remember, it is NOT council money but MY and other council tax payers. Should we be expected to subsidise a business?..... I think not!! Doug Spencer

9:15am Fri 7 Sep 12

Joseph O'M says...

Entire Vctorian and Edwardian shopping parades in Blackburn have been lost to neon signs and secuirty shutters that have removed all traces of the original shop fronts. This heritage needs to be protected at all costs, but obviously in a way that allows shop owners to feel their premises are secured. Most local councils have supplemental planning documents on shop front design, however in the vast majority of cases, the councils do not enforce any of these policies, so this case is unusual in that respect.
Entire Vctorian and Edwardian shopping parades in Blackburn have been lost to neon signs and secuirty shutters that have removed all traces of the original shop fronts. This heritage needs to be protected at all costs, but obviously in a way that allows shop owners to feel their premises are secured. Most local councils have supplemental planning documents on shop front design, however in the vast majority of cases, the councils do not enforce any of these policies, so this case is unusual in that respect. Joseph O'M

9:57am Fri 7 Sep 12

bluebouy says...

cheap takeaways as neither here nor there in the scheme of things
cheap takeaways as neither here nor there in the scheme of things bluebouy

11:26am Fri 7 Sep 12

darwenTower says...

Doug Spencer wrote:
Sick of saying this, Bacup looks a mess because of the shutters all over the place, instead of a small market town, it looks like Cheetham Hill. There are wrought iron railings fitted to some of the shops on Yorkshire street and on Beauty Culture. These provide adequate protection and they do not look out of place in an Edwardian town centre.
I agree with the council's stance on shutters and have wondered why ALL the shutters have not been removed.
As to compensation or a contribution from the council towards shutters, let us remember, it is NOT council money but MY and other council tax payers. Should we be expected to subsidise a business?..... I think not!!
I agree.

But it would also be nice to see more policing, and courts punishing vandals/theives etc.

Shopkeepers don't pay for shutters and go to the effort of opening and closing them every day out of some sort of perversion.
[quote][p][bold]Doug Spencer[/bold] wrote: Sick of saying this, Bacup looks a mess because of the shutters all over the place, instead of a small market town, it looks like Cheetham Hill. There are wrought iron railings fitted to some of the shops on Yorkshire street and on Beauty Culture. These provide adequate protection and they do not look out of place in an Edwardian town centre. I agree with the council's stance on shutters and have wondered why ALL the shutters have not been removed. As to compensation or a contribution from the council towards shutters, let us remember, it is NOT council money but MY and other council tax payers. Should we be expected to subsidise a business?..... I think not!![/p][/quote]I agree. But it would also be nice to see more policing, and courts punishing vandals/theives etc. Shopkeepers don't pay for shutters and go to the effort of opening and closing them every day out of some sort of perversion. darwenTower

12:24pm Fri 7 Sep 12

HelmshoreMan2010 says...

Every shop should be able to protect itself. If a shop has to keep splashing out on money for broken windows then it will soon become an empty shop and that looks worse overall.

The issue with shutters on a takeaway is they stay shut till 4pm. The council should meet in the middle and say shutters can be used but have to be lifted at 8am for example.
Every shop should be able to protect itself. If a shop has to keep splashing out on money for broken windows then it will soon become an empty shop and that looks worse overall. The issue with shutters on a takeaway is they stay shut till 4pm. The council should meet in the middle and say shutters can be used but have to be lifted at 8am for example. HelmshoreMan2010

2:36am Sat 8 Sep 12

Bacupbloke says...

When will the council do something or make a fuss about all the shop premises that have boarded up windows. It should be called Hardwood City.
The former Cohens chemist, rule Sunrannjng parlour, the old veg shop in St James Street, derelict shops in Rochdale Road, Plus all along Stacksteads are a disgrace yet the enforcement team make not one squeak. Why?
This heritage complaint is bogus baloney.
When will the council do something or make a fuss about all the shop premises that have boarded up windows. It should be called Hardwood City. The former Cohens chemist, rule Sunrannjng parlour, the old veg shop in St James Street, derelict shops in Rochdale Road, Plus all along Stacksteads are a disgrace yet the enforcement team make not one squeak. Why? This heritage complaint is bogus baloney. Bacupbloke

2:39am Sat 8 Sep 12

Bacupbloke says...

bluebouy wrote:
cheap takeaways as neither here nor there in the scheme of things
True, but many people in Bacup are frightened of fruit and veg. All the roly-poly residents would starve if these takeaways clised
[quote][p][bold]bluebouy[/bold] wrote: cheap takeaways as neither here nor there in the scheme of things[/p][/quote]True, but many people in Bacup are frightened of fruit and veg. All the roly-poly residents would starve if these takeaways clised Bacupbloke

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