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Hairdresser loses her fight to retain salon
Ibrahim Issa Korkor, Karl Schwarz and Liza Schwarz of the award winning Spencer's Hair Salon, who were forced to close the doors after the council said the site can only be used for residential housing or office space.
AN AWARD-winning hairdresser who gives disabled people work experience has lost a battle to keep open her Peterborough business premises.
Spencer’s Hair Salon, in Park Road, Peterborough, shut its doors on Wednesday, two days after scooping the Work In The Community award at the Peterborough City Council’s mayor-making ceremony.
Run by director Liza Schwarz, the salon has raised more than ÂŁ20,000 for disabled charities and has given special needs people employment and work experience since opening in March 2008.
But Mrs Schwarz has just been told she has lost her appeal against a recent decision by Peterborough City Council to refuse her application for a change of use of the premises.
The building had permission for office use but Mrs Schwarz was told she needed to get separate permission to use the premises as a salon. Her application was refused because councillors said that Park Road should be a residential area.
Mrs Schwarz (41) said: “It is ironic that we won an award at the mayor’s ceremony then a few days later the council’s planning department are kicking us out.
“I am really gutted but the biggest sadness is for the girls that come here for work. We employ four people with special needs and this will cause them difficulties.
“A sense of routine is very important and this is a huge change to the way we will operate.”
Mrs Schwarz says she is unable to afford a city centre property but has found a new site in Lincoln Road.
She estimates the move will cost ÂŁ10,000 to get it ready for operation in around a month.
She added: “After all our good work, I hoped the council might have given us more support.”
Outgoing Mayor of Peterborough Cllr Irene Walsh, who used one of her final acts to recognise the salon’s efforts, said: “This is a great pity.
“I am distraught that this should happen to a business that does so much good for the community.”
Mrs Schwarz has been inspired in her charity work by raising her autistic son Spencer (11).
She has invited students with special needs to visit her salon weekly for work experience ever since opening.
A council spokeswoman said the application was turned down as it was contrary to the Local Plan policy, which seeks to focus retail uses within designated centres.
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Comments
There are 9 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
zoeellard
Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 10:33 PMin case anyone had forgotten that buliding used to be a department store! FULL OF RETAIL! I some what dont think that a few people a day having their hair done can affect too many people.... and in all honesty I dont think you should be sayin about moaning and losing a buisness! this buisness is not lost at all, the children who go their for work experiences that have disabilities happiness is lost! Has anyone actually thought to follow up the story properly and take an insight into the actual buisness? hmmm... i think not!!!
liza schwarz
Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 10:16 PMI have learned the hard way, unfortunately my lease stated the useage as Hair and Beauty salon and I believed this to be true coments stating should of checked the usage, in hindsight yes, i was niave to believed my lease content to be true and should of checked with the council, but niave no more and I will still be opening in lincoln road very soon, Spencer is my inspiration and I will fight on. Thank you for those that supported us. Liza Schwarz
simon s
Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 08:24 PMThis is a rubbish website. All this emotion from a mis-leading headline. Nobody is 'losing' a business here. And after so many warnings, people still don't read the small print on a contract before they sign their life away.
Isis
Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 01:45 PMI agree with This is a rubbish website. It's all very well moaning about it now but she really should have checked the use class first.
clarry
Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 06:55 AMThis is disgusting. I have just been looking at this lady's picture in The Sun as she is up for an award and has been meeting Mrs Cameron. Perhaps The Sun would be interested in this story Mrs Schwarz - what about our Council Leader isnt there anything he can do to help you? I hope you are able to set up your Salon on Lincoln Road and good luck to you!
This is a rubbish website
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 10:19 PMIt doesn't have planning permission to be used as anything else other than residential or office - FULL STOP! The reason behind it is to stop the constant flow of people coming and going into the premises. They should have checked the class of planning consent before they took it on.
Chiefy
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 09:22 PMI can sum up this decision in just three words : THIS IS PETERBOROUGH
Fidget
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 02:56 PMHmmmm. Well, if I were the owners I would investigate setting myself up as "community interest company" (CIC), which is basically a limited company that exists to provide benefits to the local community or a specific section of the local community. If the salon is providing work experience and other opportunities to those with special needs the it could be argued that it is operating as a CIC (especially as it has a Work in the Community award), in which case the PCC enforced closure could be challenged under discrimination laws. Just a thought....
Puzzled
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 12:02 PMThis is ridiculous! They want Park Lane to stay residential but you can have an office in the building? that makes no sense. Did the council ask the residents if the salon was a problem to them?? Come on PCC have a bit of common sense - this isn't a smelly fast food joint
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