Popular Nuneaton town centre business 'forced' to close on New Year's Eve after more than 20 years

[dutchman]

It has blamed the 'deeply sad' decision on council regeneration plans



A popular Nuneaton town centre business says it is being 'forced' to close on New Year's Eve due to council regeneration plans.

In fact, in a post on its page on Facebook, Heatwave has blamed Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council for it having to take the 'deeply sad' decision.

The sunbed and beauty salon has had a presence in the town centre for more than 20 years, after originally being based in Queens Road before moving to its current home in New Century Way.

But the Facebook post explains that as part of the £30m Abbey Street regeneration programme, some of the current shops on New Century Way have to be bulldozed, including the salon's current home.

The firm claims that despite pleas, and even finding a new home in nearby Abbey Street, the Town Hall has not helped them - leaving them with no choice but to close.

This is something that the council leader, councillor Kris Wilson, has vehemently refuted and he told CoventryLive that both the council and himself, personally, have tried to help 'every step of the way' and will continue to do so.

The Heatwave Facebook post, made last night (December 27), reads: "It is with deep sadness that we have to announce to you that after 20 years as Nuneaton’s oldest and best performing sunbed salon, we will be closing our doors at 5pm on Friday 31st Dec 2021 for the last time.

"We have become a victim of the council's town centre regeneration plans for the New Century Way site.

"We have fought tooth and nail until today, to try to appeal to the council to help us to relocate to a site on Abbey Street in town that we had found, where we were sure would more than accommodate us.

"However, after what we feel was a real lack of support from the council, I am afraid that we have had to admit defeat."

It concludes: "We would like to thank you all for being such loyal customers and friends to us over the past 20 years, we will miss you all very much and hope that you can find somewhere else to maintain your tans."

Hundreds of people commented on the post, many of them shocked and angered at the news.

It was in responses to these comments that the firm revealed that it had asked the council for grants to help toward the reported £100,000 costs to fit-out an alternative home in Abbey Street - but it did not materialise.

Shopmobility and Lifestyle, which was based along the row of shops, found its own new home in the former Blockbuster store.

Sally Beauty also needs to find a new home, while Kimberley’s Occasions moved into Market Place.