Yet another pub - or caf bar - looks set to take the place of traditional shopping space in Chelmsford town centre.
The whole of the New London Road frontage of the former Bolingbroke and Wenley store now seems likely to follow the example of large swathes of the Springfield Road area and other traditional retail sites in catering for the leisure industry.
But, say council chiefs, this is bringing a new vitality to the town and encouraging shoppers.
The fifth of what were to be five small shops on the New London Road frontage of the former store is likely to get the go-ahead today to join the other four in becoming a new pub.
Attempts to market them for retail uses have failed, councillors are being told in a report which adds that the site has become "peripheral" to the town centre.
Derek Stebbing, local plans manager with Chelmsford Borough Council, said, "It is difficult to pinpoint the actual reason why there is the present lack of interest from retailers because Chelmsford continues to thrive as a retail centre."
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Published Monday December 17, 2001
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