Councillors welcome new School Mead shops

12.00.00am GMT Sat 19th Jan 2008

Cllr Chris Whately-Smith welcomes Graham, manager of the new Spar, to Abbots Langley

LibDem councillor Chris Whately-Smith has taken up a number of minor issues at the new shops in School Mead.

With the contractors due to finish on site in the next couple of weeks, Chris discussed the site with the Director of Dean Dyball builders. The contractors have agreed to make good the damage to the rails and verges and to remove the temporary footpath.

Before the shops opened, Chris visited the manager of Spar and the operations manager of Dominos Pizzas to wish them well in the new site. He raised the issues of noise and litter and previous antisocial behaviour that had plagued the previous site.

The operations manager of Dominos Pizza assured Chris that their operations were of a high standard, using drivers over 21 and ensuring litter was removed.

The manager of Spar said he had been managing these stores for 18 years and did not tolerate for example under age youngsters trying to buy alcohol. He was arranging a meeting with the police to discuss local issues. He also responded quickly to Chris's request for somewhere for shoppers to tie their dogs whilst shopping.

Chris has also been in touch with Ladbrokes to find out what measures they are adopting to keep the area in front of the shop free of cigarette butts, but is still awaiting a reply.

Chris said, "It is great to have shops back better than ever at School Mead. I am delighted that the owners and managers are so keen to make sure that their businesses are an asset to the local community".