A businessman claims Lincolnshire County Council is stalling the opening of a Spalding town centre supermarket – and ten or 12 jobs – by dragging its feet on a minor legal matter.
Harry Bharwani owns the former China 88 building at 12 Sheep Market and Kwiksave Spalding Ltd has been granted planning consent to open a supermarket on the ground floor and build a ground floor extension covering half the rear yard.
Mr Bharwani says his deeds allow the library access to his yard – and that will continue – but he needs the council to consent to a legal document.
He said: “We have written to the county council through my solicitor. We have sent reminders and calls with no response whatsoever and I would say it’s almost been five weeks. It’s a very minor technical issue. It could be sorted out in a day.”
Mr Bharwani said the delay is not helping the economy because Kwiksave Spalding wants to open in December.
County council property manager operations Jim Hogg said: “We’ve been contacted by Mr Bharwani’s solicitors and our property team has considered the request. We will be responding in the very near future.”
There was no comment on the delay.
• A brand new Indian and Nepalese restaurant, The Ghurka Oven, will open on the first floor of the building in the first week of November.
Business partners Ram Krishna and Deepak Chadri aim to create four full-time jobs and between four and six part-time jobs. Mr Krishna said they will serve familiar dishes offered at Indian restaurants, but also create authentic, home-style meals.
He said: “It will be more exciting food than you get at a normal curry house.”