Can someone tell me what’s happening with kebab alley?

6:00pm Thursday 11th March 2010

By James Calnan

A FRUSTRATED shop owner in Colchester’s “kebab alley” has put in a bid to turn his stationery store into a takeaway.

Steve Miller says the ongoing recession means he does not know when, or if, the forthcoming Vineyard Gate shopping centre will mean Miller Stationery, in St Botolph’s Street, will be knocked down.

He is also frustrated Colchester Council’s local development framework, which is to be scrutinised later this month, will recommend more takeaways and restaurants can be built along the street.

Mr Miller, who has run the store since 1986, said he did not want to sell the property to someone who wanted to turn it into a takeaway, but said he wanted to keep his options open.

He said: “It’s only happening so if I did want to sell my business, at least I would be able to maximise the value of it. It’s easier to let the place for a takeaway than a retail place.”

Last year, the Gazette revealed the 60-store Vineyard Gate centre had stalled because of the recession.

Mr Miller said the ongoing wait for the shopping centre left those with properties which could be demolished to make way for the development facing an uncertain future.

He said: “I haven’t known for the last ten years what is going to happen to my property because of the threat of closing me down.

“If I had a bit more certainty over the future of my business, then I wouldn’t need to do this.”

Mr Miller said with a train station on his doorstep and the forthcoming Visual Arts Facility and Cultural Quarter nearby, St Botolph’s Street should be a centre for retailers.

He said: “I came here because there are four car parks within 100 yards. St Botolph’s Street could be the best place to be. But I’m fed up with being in kebab alley.”

Colchester Council spokesman Clare Atkinson said the authority would ensure there was the right balance between shops, restaurants and takeaways in the town centre.

She said: “The council is in regular communication with Mr Miller about the future of his business within this area of regeneration and we will continue to advise him of timescales and potential development of the area as and when we have that information.”

No one from Caddick, the developer behind Vineyard Gate, was available for comment.