Petition to keep condemned Ockendon cafe open
Date posted: 09-03-2013
RESIDENTS in South Ockendon have petitioned Thurrock Council in a bid to save a popular cafe.
TONY’S Cafe, on Derwent Parade, has been condemned by the authorities for being in breach of planning permission and owner, Imam Cayir has been ordered to stop cooking hot food on the premises and remove tables and chairs.
At last week’s full Council meeting Cllr Charles Curtis presented a petition with 780 signatures asking the Council to change the status of the shop from a Class Business One Use to Class Three.
He said: “I fully understand what the people of Belhus and South Ockendon are asking for. This is a very important hub of our community life. It is where both young and elderly come together for a cup or tea and a chat and more importantly a hot meal.
“The cafe employs four local people and had been operating as a class three premises without problems for nine years. It offers warmth and comfort for so many people living in our area.
“I sincerely hope that our officers can come together and make this happen sooner rather than later.”
At the cafe, customers spoke about why they want to to stay.
Ian Morrison, 59, from South Ockendon said: “I don’t see why they are shutting it down. There’s no reason for it.”
Tucking into a bacon sarnie, Mrs Joyce Markham, 92, South Ockendon: “It’s disgusting. It seems a stupid idea to me. The cafe is always busy, what’s the matter with them?
“They’ve been here nearly 10 years and now to suddenly shut it, well! You can always get a cooked meal. We’re in here twice a week and its ever so clean. It’s disgusting what the Council are doing.”
Her friend, Mrs Joan Merry, 83, said: “We’ve signed the petition and we hope it will help. We come whenever we can and when we go to the shops. It’s lovely.”
Popularity: 5% [?]
Couldn’t agree more with all the ocmments.
How small minded can TBC get, or is it a ploy to get rid of the shops and build more homes for those coming into our country, like Grays locals in Ockendon will soon be a minority.
I feel for the guy he serves the community well and does put together some tasty meals. Live and let live should be the motto in these hard times, you only have to look at empy shops in Derwent to see TBC’s renting policy is failing them, I feel a reduced rental and rates for say 2 years to get businesses started and shops trading again, would be better than trying to squeeze the last penny, with the reality being no revenue for TBC from closed shops. then maybe wecould see many local unemployed people trusting in their own abilities to get back into work by running their own businesses.
There really are no incentives from our greedy council.
Strange how they find the funds to carry out refurbishment to the library to make it our hub, add to this the rehoming of the local Housing team will render more shops empty, GREAT!
Councillors like Charlie deserve to be applauded as they work tirelessy for their communities. TIME TO GET REAL TBC.
Fully agree with big noise above. Very well said.
Just a thought to balance the record, arent illegal cafes like this one the reason why legal cafes like the one in the Thameside and had lay off the people with learning difficulties that it employed?
Congratulations Tony 3 Hard Working People
I Frgot To Say Bernie Ex Econogas