Our last word

Without going into too much detail, the following brief points will hopefully clarify some of Mr Ritz’s incorrect statements:

1) The Garden Cafe sells every item on its menu for cost price plus a mark-up. The accumulated mark-up on all sales contributes towards the cafe’s fixed costs. The greater the sales, the greater the contribution. Therefore, if sales could be increased significantly through an extension, with minimal additional fixed costs, the increase in the accumulated mark-up may be sufficient to cover the loss currently incurred.

2) The café staff are paid a market salary for hours worked and receive holiday pay in line with legislation. They are not paid on other days off.

3) Pension costs are incurred, but significantly less than the figure quoted by Mr Ritz.

4) Vegetarian meals served in attractive surroundings for residents are not a subsidised luxury and do not compete directly with other eateries in the village, where non-vegetarian food is available.

I hope these comments are useful to all Rustington residents, but I would welcome the opportunity to meet with Mr Ritz, if he would like to contact the parish council to arrange this, to listen to his views and, also, to clarify any misunderstandings.

The parish council will not be responding to any other letters in the Gazette which relate to The Garden Café, but would be pleased to address any comments or questions residents might have in this regard, or in connection with any other service provided by the council, either during the public question time prior to any of its monthly meetings, at one of its bi-monthly surgeries at the Village Information Centre or at a meeting (pre-arranged) at the parish council offices.

Councillor Phil Evans, chairman,

Rustington Parish Council,

Andrew Close

Rustington