Traders' rent rise fears

Recently, South Coast Interiors closed, and retailers fear higher rent may cause others to follow suit and shut up shop.

Trevor Cobb, who runs the Tomorrow's World video shop, is one of the tenants facing a rent rise.

He also has branches in Worthing and Brighton, and said he pays less for those sites, which he rents privately, than he is being asked to pay in Southwick Square, renting from the council.

Mr Cobb told the Herald: "It just doesn't make any sense at all. I am umm-ing and aah-ing about whether to stay in Southwick, now. There are a lot of traders here who can't afford it. It could kill a lot of the businesses."

Andrew Fenton, who runs Bubbles launderette, is also having his rent reviewed.

He said: "All of us want to stay here but it will get to a point where we have to see if we can afford it. It is crucial that we have each other, and that is why we like it here. It works both ways."

A spokesman for Adur council said four of the shops in Southwick Square are in the process of having their rent reviewed after five years.

She said: "Coming to an agreement with these businesses is proving difficult. Council officers have explained to these four businesses that if agreement could not be reached, an independent assessor would be asked to give provide a professional market assessment.

"The council has offered the businesses a rate of 18.63 per square foot, per year. Unfortunately, the businesses are not prepared to accept this figure. A market assessment on one of these shops has said 26 per square foot, per year, is an appropriate figure and in line with the open market.

"The council has a duty to council tax payers to keep council tax as low as possible. Although the difference in figures for one shop may be relatively small, if this is multiplied by the 35 businesses in the Square, council tax payers will be paying to subsidise these shops over the normal five-year lease to the tune of two per cent on council tax '“ an average of 100,000 a year."

The spokesman added the council is holding a meeting on Thursday, January 11, and tenants will be free to attend and ask questions at the beginning, after which the meeting will become closed to the public.