By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
The controversial white marquees outside No 131 the Promenade may not be removed until next year amid concerns Julian Dunkerton’s Lucky Onion Group is “getting a free ride”.
Plans to keep the prominent white “tents” in Cheltenham town centre which replaced parasols outside 131 and 133 in October 2020 were rejected in November last year.
They were installed outside the hotel and restaurant while planning enforcement against moveable structures was relaxed during the Covid-19 pandemic to allow bars and restaurants to use external spaces and meet social distancing requirements.
However, after the relaxation rules ended, initial proposals to keep the structures for a further two years were rejected by Cheltenham Borough Council in November 2022. And this decision was upheld by a planning inspector during the summer last year.
New plans were later submitted to keep the tents there but also to reduce their height by around two metres. But these proposals were also turned down due to the impact it would have on the five grade II*-listed Regency buildings located prominently in the conservation area.
Councillors were told in January that an enforcement notice was issued to remove the marquees but they are still standing. And the town’s Civic Society is concerned about the planning breach at 131 the Promenade and that the white marquees outside have not been removed yet.
A Civic Society spokesperson said: “It is a total lack of enforcement despite two decisions against them for the tents. It’s a commercial liberty that they have taken advantage of the Covid ruling to gain an unfair opportunity over everybody else who trades in the town as a restaurant or bar by increasing the amount of space.
“It’s unfair. Why should one trader be given an unfair commercial advantage over every other competitor who does follow the rules. He is being given a free ride.”
The Borough Council says it served an enforcement notice to 131 earlier this year which requires the removal of the tents. However, an appeal was lodged against the notice and they are currently awaiting its outcome – this could take until early next year.
A Cheltenham Borough Council spokesperson said: “We served an enforcement notice to 131 the Promenade at the beginning of the year (2024), requiring the removal of the tents.
“An appeal was lodged against that notice shortly afterwards and we are currently awaiting the outcome of that appeal.
“It is currently taking the planning inspectorate around one year to determine enforcement appeals so we may not get a decision until early next year.”
No 131 The Promenade has been approached for comment.
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