'I feel victimised' - Usk restaurant owner in lights row (From South Wales Argus)
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'I feel victimised' - owner of Usk restaurant, La Cantina in lights row
10:40am Friday 20th July 2012 in News
By Natalie Crockett
ANGRY: Sally Smith, of La Cantina restaurant in Bridge Street, Usk
AN USK restaurant owner says she feels victimised after being forced to remove outdoor lights from her premises when they are in use elsewhere in the town.
Sally Smith, who runs La Cantina Bistro and Restaurant, removed five swan neck lights outside the property’s entrance on Bridge Street last Friday after Monmouthshire council threatened to take court action.
But Mrs Smith says many other premises in the town are using them, as well as others in Monmouth, Caldicot and Chepstow.
She said: “I just feel totally victimised. I take it personally, our business has been singled out and it’s not fair.
“Why me? It’s just not on.”
Mrs Smith, who also runs a South African shop, Biltong2u Ltd in Llancayo Court, has now written to the authority’s planning department to highlight the matter and ask if other premises will be forced to remove their lights. As earlier reported, council planning officers said the lights, which cost La Cantina £1,000, are unlawful because they do not have planning permission and are unsuitable within the Usk Conservation Area.
She was asked to take them down or face prosecution in the magistrates’ court, which could have resulted in a £2,500 penalty.
George Ashworth, Monmouthshire council’s head of planning, said: “Lighting is a sensitive subject in conservation areas such as Usk. If it’s not needed for safety purposes in a historic setting it should preferably be unobtrusive.
“Wenormally try to negotiate and seek enforcement action only as a last resort. We also try to be even-handed so that if there are other examples of similar lighting in similar circumstances, officers will investigate their impact to see if enforcement action is merited.”
Comments(19)
amp850
says...
12:42pm Fri 20 Jul 12
SuperTonic7th
says...
1:09pm Fri 20 Jul 12
One good thing that came out of the previous article was that I got curious and visited Usk and spent a very enjoyable evening at La Cantina.
Polly1234
says...
1:30pm Fri 20 Jul 12
The food and atmosphere was lovely I must say!
I'd just say to the owner that they are doing a great job, and don't let the council get you down. I think I speak for most locals when I say that!
I am interested to see how MCC will sort this out, I'm sure this won't be the last story The Argus publish about the issue- all the other places in Usk will be next if the council are fair about it. Either that or they'll have to pay La Cantina to have their lights put back up just like everywhere else.
gmjones
says...
1:41pm Fri 20 Jul 12
Polly1234
says...
1:54pm Fri 20 Jul 12
gmjones wrote:I was already a customer actually- I've been going for years. It just urged me to support them and the general Usk area even more. I'm sure you would do the same after spending all that money on lights- I would! You can see it's unfair- they have clearly been singled out.
Obviously the owner of this restaurant has got exactly what she wanted by running this story in the Argus – MORE CUSTOMERS – she clearly doesn’t care about a few lights there is a lamppost right next to the entrance...... victimised yeah right!!!
b3talover
says...
2:27pm Fri 20 Jul 12
Polly1234 wrote:I suspect you are the owner, Polly1234...
gmjones wrote:I was already a customer actually- I've been going for years. It just urged me to support them and the general Usk area even more. I'm sure you would do the same after spending all that money on lights- I would! You can see it's unfair- they have clearly been singled out.
Obviously the owner of this restaurant has got exactly what she wanted by running this story in the Argus – MORE CUSTOMERS – she clearly doesn’t care about a few lights there is a lamppost right next to the entrance...... victimised yeah right!!!
Polly1234
says...
2:36pm Fri 20 Jul 12
b3talover wrote:I swear to you I'm not b3talover, I just support local businesses, think the council should treat them equally and that lights on Usk restaurants are fine.
Polly1234 wrote:I suspect you are the owner, Polly1234...
gmjones wrote:I was already a customer actually- I've been going for years. It just urged me to support them and the general Usk area even more. I'm sure you would do the same after spending all that money on lights- I would! You can see it's unfair- they have clearly been singled out.
Obviously the owner of this restaurant has got exactly what she wanted by running this story in the Argus – MORE CUSTOMERS – she clearly doesn’t care about a few lights there is a lamppost right next to the entrance...... victimised yeah right!!!
amp850
says...
2:38pm Fri 20 Jul 12
gmjones wrote:Surely that is the point of a business?
Obviously the owner of this restaurant has got exactly what she wanted by running this story in the Argus – MORE CUSTOMERS – she clearly doesn’t care about a few lights there is a lamppost right next to the entrance...... victimised yeah right!!!
ps, in British English it is Lamp Post.
Good luck with your silly comments.
SuperTonic7th
says...
2:44pm Fri 20 Jul 12
On the inside
says...
2:54pm Fri 20 Jul 12
SuperTonic7th wrote:I do. If she had made even the smallesgt attempt to check planning regs she would have avoided all this. She would almost certainly have been able to reach agreement on new lights and had none on this. As for her pathetic attempts to get other Usk business into trouble, that is just childish. Has she checked if they have got planning consent. She seems unable to grasp this is not about lights, it is about planning regs that apply to all business's. If she does not understand this she is not fit to run a business and if she was intentionally ignoring the rules she deserves all she gets. Of course she may not agree with the rules in which case she is free to join the political party of her choice and campaign for them to be changed. I bet I can guess which party she would choose, in which case she is out of luck as they run Monmouthshire already and made these rules.
gmjones - why so bitter? Do you really think the owner has been fairly treated and that she's complaining for nothing?
CM1
says...
10:01pm Fri 20 Jul 12
amp850
says...
4:23pm Sat 21 Jul 12
On the inside wrote:You are clearly on the planning board. How is it fair? Call me Mr Fussy Trousers but this lady has put up lights - the same lights that other restaurants have, she gets told to take them down (if you look in the previous article) and told she will not get planning permission as they are not suitable for the area. Other restaurants still have them up....
SuperTonic7th wrote:I do. If she had made even the smallesgt attempt to check planning regs she would have avoided all this. She would almost certainly have been able to reach agreement on new lights and had none on this. As for her pathetic attempts to get other Usk business into trouble, that is just childish. Has she checked if they have got planning consent. She seems unable to grasp this is not about lights, it is about planning regs that apply to all business's. If she does not understand this she is not fit to run a business and if she was intentionally ignoring the rules she deserves all she gets. Of course she may not agree with the rules in which case she is free to join the political party of her choice and campaign for them to be changed. I bet I can guess which party she would choose, in which case she is out of luck as they run Monmouthshire already and made these rules.
gmjones - why so bitter? Do you really think the owner has been fairly treated and that she's complaining for nothing?
If it was me I would take the same course of action regardless of whether they have planning permission or not.
Dee-Gee
says...
10:19pm Tue 24 Jul 12
She's got a business to run, for heaven's sake - the rule of common sense applies when deciding how to use your time (and there's never enough of it, either)
rocky50
says...
7:44pm Thu 26 Jul 12
CM1
says...
9:56pm Thu 26 Jul 12
Hevsym
says...
6:30am Fri 27 Jul 12
Finally, this is just my opinion, I have never eaten in Usk, and I am not on any council or committee.
rocky50
says...
9:43am Fri 27 Jul 12
CM1 wrote:This is excactly it. There would be no problem if MCC followed the law, they simply do not. They show a clear bias for some and against others. It would be different if you could sue the individals working at MCC for there actions. Instead they are protected as a whole,they use ratepayers money to defend against the ratepayers they have a duty to protect! In fact according to Paula Clarke MCC ead of enforcement , they will not enforce whilst an application is being considered( this is illegal but hey what differance does this make to MCC?)so I suggest "la Cantina" puts in for permission nd will be able to keep the lights for up to 2 yaers whilst negotiations takes place, she may even get the permisssion!
Hmmmm, that sounds very typical of MCC. They allow certain businesses to do what they like and will simply ignore their own policies regarding permitted uses. All people ask is for the Council to enforce the planning laws and to be equitable and just to all parties. Unfortunately, MCC is not capable of doing this. Policies are decided and enforced on the basis of personality and personal interest.
J_davies05
says...
2:20pm Fri 27 Jul 12
Polly1234 says...
12:13pm Fri 20 Jul 12
I was expecting to see this in the paper soon to be honest. It does seem very unfair, almost suspicious that La Cantina have been singled out. Most places in Usk have lighting outside, and have done for years: The King's Head, The Indian takeaway (and they're neon for goodness sake), The Fish and chip shop (and they have the same traditional swan neck lights too).
Outdoor lighting in Usk has never bothered me- it adds something to the places in my opinion. The council shouldn't make one rule for one establishment though and let other businesses off. Sure if you want to make a petty rule, but treat everywhere equally.
No doubt they regret targeting La Cantina now as it does make them look unfair. Now all the eateries in Usk will be upset with them, as surely they'll ALL have to remove they're outdoor lighting?
It's just so petty, they should be left to try and boost Usk's economy without being threatened about a few lights.
What makes it worse is that La Cantina always looks so immaculate and traditional- it really makes the high street look nice! And then there's that IT shop near them painted bright green!!
Sort yourself out MCC, you all seem a bit away with the fairies to me. Why not be strict about something that remotely matters- like the dozens of massive lorries knocking down the bridge and squeezing through the high street everyday.