Shop1, Castle House, Well Lane, Clare has certainly grabbed everyone’s attention recently. It was previously the ice cream parlour that failed to make the impact that was expected. The shop now stands empty which is never good for Clare.

Recently an application to West Suffolk Council for an alcohols licence for the shop alerted everyone to it being used for something new. There are concerns about the commercial impact on the post office, which we don’t want to lose, but sometimes competition can be healthy.

It is As I understand it is currently a planning use class E which means new planning permission for change of use will not be required.

Use Class E of the Use Classes Order 1987 (as amended) was introduced on 1st September 2020 and covers the former use classes of A1 (shops), A2 (financial and professional), A3 (restaurants and cafes) as well as parts of D1 (non-residential institutions) and D2(assembly and leisure) and puts them all into one new use class.

As the shop sits within a conservation area there are constraints on what can be done to the building. I have alerted our conservation officer to what is proposed.

I had a great chat with the new owner today and encouraged him to share with everyone what his ambitions are for the shop. Information can sometimes reassure.

Firstly, the owner reassured me there will not be any large HGVs just a small van. He sent me the following:

“We are not here to affect the trading of any other shops or businesses. All we are trying to do is to bring back to the area everything it has lost which includes the following:

1. Wide Range of Pet foods from a local supplier at discounted prices

2. Fresh hot bread and rolls from a local bakery supplier

3. DIY and Hardware

4. Pick n Mix Selection of Sweets for the local children

5. Household Hardware cleaning materials including mop buckets and brooms etc. 

6. Logs and kindling

7. Dry cleaning agent

8. Special offer £1 lines

9. Top quality selection of affordable wines

Many of the items we will be stocking are currently not on offer in the local community/village and will be offered to all our customers at very affordable prices. 

It is not in our agenda to close any local businesses, but to work with them to provide everything for the villagers and passing trade. 

At the moment the shop is an eyesore. when it is finished, it will be in keeping with the area and painted to a very high standard which will compliment the high street. 

We sponsor local fetes, schools and football clubs and we only employ local people. We also raise a lot of money for Cancer research and pride ourselves on doing everything we can for the local community. 

We have over 45 years of experience in this field and won many awards. We have no intention of encroaching on the Post Office next door and appreciate and respect that this business has been there for many years. 

Ultimately, the service we are providing is complimentary to what is already in the village and although there may be the odd crossover, we are there to provide the customers with everything they need which the other stores don’t do. 

Planning permission is not required as we are not doing anything which requires any special permissions.”