Chapter 22, a beloved record and plant shop located on Broad Street in Bath, is embroiled in a tense dispute with Bath and North East Somerset Council over thousands of pounds in unpaid rent. The shop’s owners, Nicola Taylor and Dean Brown, fear that the council may change the locks this week if the arrears are not settled.
Ms. Taylor explained that the shop had consistently paid rent until six months ago, when a “dire summer” trading slump drastically reduced customer footfall on Broad Street. Despite this, she emphasized that the shop was poised to recover during its traditionally busy seasons, including Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Mother’s Day, and hoped to catch up on its rental payments then.
However, when Chapter 22 sought to negotiate a rent repayment plan during a recent meeting, the council refused, citing previous delays in payment. “We are not asking for a rent reduction, just to spread the payments over the upcoming busy period,” Ms. Taylor said, expressing frustration at the council’s inflexibility.
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Open for more than four years, Chapter 22 has garnered community admiration, winning a gold award at Bath in Bloom three times. Its loyal customers are reportedly “outraged and devastated” by the potential closure. Ms. Taylor, a longtime local florist with 34 years of experience, stressed her commitment to Bath and her desire to contribute positively to the city.
A major concern for the shop is the ongoing decline of Broad Street, which locals have dubbed “Grim Street” due to a persistent drop in visitors. Ms. Taylor highlighted the lack of adequate signage as a key factor, noting that the business has requested better street signage for two years without success.
Responding to the situation, the council’s cabinet member for resources, Mark Elliott, declined to comment on specific cases but stated that enforcement actions are a last resort, taken only after exhaustive attempts at discussion and negotiation. He emphasized the council’s duty to collect all monies owed by individuals or businesses to support the local community.