Epping Forest District Council says shopkeepers hit by enhancement scheme losses should get rent rebate

The cabinet of Epping Forest District Council ruled out a rent deferral last month and shopkeepers who lost business because of the works were pessimistic that they would recover any of the money.

The decision was challenged by the council’s scrutiny committee and, at their meeting on Thursday night, cabinet member Cllr Mitch Cohen announced the recovery package.

Geraldine Wilson, owner of Geraldine's Hair Fashions said: “I thought it would be a massive no, I'm really shocked. It's really great news, absolutely brilliant. It's like we've won the lottery. It's still quite hard round here so it's very helpful.”

Cllr Cohen told the committee: “I hold the shopping area extremely dear to my heart. However, the proposal which was put to cabinet was not whether we should give financial aid, the proposal that was turned down was to give a deferment to monies owed. I've always said a deferment would be an absolute disaster.

“It's now been found that we can do better than the deferment. We are hoping that we will in fact be able to give a rebate - not a deferment - of 20 per cent of the rent for a period of eight months. That would cost us £130,000. That can be nothing but good news for the traders in the Broadway.”

Cllr Ken Angold-Stephens said: “No other shopping parade has had the road entirely closed, neither is any shopping parade likely to experience this. There is therefore no precedent.

“During this period the shopping trade failed completely on a Sunday. It's true that all traders experience problems but it’s the added problem of the refurbishment which has produced this.”

Owner of Blow Your Top hairdressers Arnold Burman said: “It's really good news. We need it. A lot of us are finding it very hard, and we are very grateful.”

Councillors unanimously welcomed the new proposal which is now scheduled to be discussed at the next full council meeting on September 29.