Bohemia Village Voice

Appliance Master – moving to Queens Road

Five local shops are closing – and all cite the lack of parking as being mainly or partly to blame.

White goods retailer, Appliance Master, at the corner of Bohemia and Tower Roads closes at the end of January. Owner, Matthew Strevett says ‘No-one can park – I drive around four or five times before I can find somewhere to park.’ The fridge, freezer, washing machine and cooker retailer has opened a shop in Queen’s Road, Hastings. ‘Believe it or not, the parking is actually a lot easier there than in Bohemia’ says Matthew. ‘Our customers can park in Morrison’s or pay on a meter – traffic wardens are much more tolerant – when we’re loading they leave us alone.’

Roseanna & Bryan’s specialist card shop in London Road will also be closing (on the 29th January), but will continue to trade on the internet. Partner Roseanna says ‘There’s nowhere for customers to park – we’re actually doing better on the internet – we’re even started getting orders from overseas.’

Keycutters and safe specialists Hastings Locksmiths are also planning on moving this year. Owner, Ian Burt says ‘Customers try to park outside and dash in and they get nabbed  by the wardens – it’s just ridiculous.’

Hastings Cycles is also closing in January and, like Roseanna & Bryan will be continuing trading – on the internet. Owner Nick Alff says ‘Basically, the reason I’m going is that trade has dropped right off. My customers say “God, it’s taken me ages to find somewhere to park.” The area is swarming with traffic wardens – I’m very wary myself stopping outside my own shop to load and unload. At retail parks you can park for nothing – and get everything you want – including bikes.’

Sell it on E-bay has changed its name to Efton (UK) Ltd, an electrical import and wholesale company. Director Edward Alagoa says ‘My customers used to complain about the parking and some of them got parking tickets. We are switching to wholesale distribution of electronics, hair straighteners, electrical goods etc.’

Local councillor Andrew Cartwright, who has been pressing for improved parking facilities in Bohemia, says ‘Last July, HBC’s Parking Manager, Rahoul Shahilow, came to Bohemia and went on a walkabout with myself and Cllr Trevor Webb. The two ideas mooted were a 2-hour parking bay in London Road and echelon [diagonal] parking in a one-way Tower Road. A full study would be required. I am very disappointed that the Highways Department has done nothing about this and I have made a formal written complaint to HBC. Trevor Webb and I are meeting HBC later in January.’

COMMENT

Chris Chantler writes (Mar 2008)

Dear Sir,

Firstly, congratulations on a superb publication – always a pleasure and entertaining read. I was interested in your feature on local parking as we also are very concerned about the ever diminishing parking spaces in the area. We also have problems with ‘over zealous’ parking wardens who do not want to allow us time to load/off-load on the premises. We would support both suggestions put forward (especially of interest was the ‘diagonal’ parking in a one-way Tower Road).

Let’s hope the meeting in January goes well.

Chris Chantler, HKS 138 London Road.