A former betting shop in Sandown is being transformed into a new international food shop with a focus on fruit and veg.
Mr P Sivarasa has submitted a change of use application to turn a vacant unit at 55 High Street in Sandown, formerly home to a branch of Ladbrokes, into a new retail shop.
Officially, the application submitted to the Isle of Wight Council states it will be a fruit and veg shop, but locals are being told that the shop will offer international food from around the world.
A submitted Planning Statement states the proposal will result in an ‘increase in retail employment for the benefit of the local community’, offering a ‘wide range of products to serve the Sandown area’.
It is said that the new venture will create 3 full-time and 2 part-time roles.
Plans show the property will be ‘basically untouched’ apart from a ‘lining out’ of its interior walls and the installation of display shelving and a counter. This work has already taken place, despite permission not yet being granted.
Shopfitters have been busy in the High Street over the past week, with what Island Echo is told is an aim to open the doors by mid-April.
However, County Hall’s public consultation ends on 19th May and a decision is scheduled for 9th June.
Sandown High Street is rapidly changing.
I always knew it would, just a matter of time.
Lol
Excellent news. Hope this business gets lots of new customers who buy regularly and hope the opening hours are when customers need it.
Going to be tough up against Co-op
Sainsbury and Londis, but better to be
an open shop than a closed shop.
I would imagine very long opening hours
these shop owners are hard workers, not
shirkers.
Some good news, at last. Hopefully the High Street will attract more businesses to fill all the empty units.
Still a long way to go, but every little helps.
I don’t know who will ever take on the old
Fields shop.
I would like to see a Premier shop open up,
they could easily fill the space of the old
Fields shop.
Please, please, pleeeeeese can we let this brave soul open his business in Sandown without immediately being plagued and strangled out of existence by the greedy, uncaring, useless local council who have trashed our lovely old seaside town.
Longer free parking and free toilets would help.
50p to use the toilets near the High Street.
The council are not helping businesses at all.
Good news. Not sure what the ‘international’ bit is.
It’s a way of describing a shop keeper of culture
who probably owns shops in the big smoke and
is branching out on the island.
The island is fastly becoming the big smoke in the
1970s
I am surprised it took so long.