Arrow Valley Country Park is the largest area of open space in Redditch at 900 acres. It is visited by hundreds of thousands of people each year. The only catering allowed in the park at the moment is in the Visitor Centre - a publicly owned buidling which is leased to a catering company.
In 2013 I applied to the council for a permit to sell snacks and refreshments near to the Sailing Club end of the lake. I was told I had to take out public liability insurance - which I did. After that I was then told that they would not allow any additional catering within the grounds of the park because they "didn't want to affect the business of the person leasing the visitor centre". Since then, I have repeatedly tried to challenge this standpoint - which seems to have no legal basis, is anti-competitive and is against the interests of the park visitors.
On Sunday the 16th of March - one of the hottest days of the year so far - the visitor centre decided to keep their ice cream kiosk and bar closed. Visitors inside the building were offered a choice of one flavour of ice cream, out of about 12. With no competition being allowed by the council, they are left to charge whatever prices they choose.
I need your help to riase the profile of this issue with the Council. I have tried to question the policy with management to no avail. I am always told the same thing - that they wouldn't do anything to hurt the business of the company occupying the visitor centre.
Please add your name to my petition. When I have got enough entries, I intend to present it to the Council personally. Only then do I think they will consider this matter properly, and realise that their stance until now has been harmful to the interests, enjoyment and the finances of the people of Redditch (and visitors)!
35 Comments
we paid over £7 for a small ice cream,2packs of crisps,can pepsi and a coffee,the coffee was horrible tasteless and definetly not worth the money,i will not be waisting that amount of money again
We took our dog for a walk around the park recently and fed the ducka as you do, lovely warm day, very busy in the park itself but when we decidwd to go to the visitors centre for a coffee,outside there werw hardly any customers, i.side was as dead. we paid for two coffee's, (wish i hadnt bothered) the coffee was expensive and very poor quality basically a small cup of brown tastless liquid. the outside bar was cloaed so no choice there either. competition is healthy not hurtfull to existingbusiness unless that business is substandard in product and service already. More choice is needed from additional service providers to invoke heqlthy competion and healthy choice and a much better experience for visitors.
when i take my dog around the lake i would like a coffee half way but because there is no outside cafe i cant get a cup i dont want to tie my dog up outside incase she get stolen
People need to have a choice no business should have a monopoly and be able to charge whatever they want more choice = competion which drives down the prices and makes the co owners of the country side centre to work harder with no competition you sense they don t care
another kiosk would be a great idea for people to choose not to have to go into the visitor centre which is dark gloomy over-priced and not very child friendly!
catering choice is needed
a greater variety of food available in Redditch would be brilliant, and AVP would be a great place to start. Lets have more imagination food wise from the council - and there is plenty of room for a fair few independents down at AVP.
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Arrow Valley Country Park is the largest area of open space in Redditch at 900 acres. It is visited by hundreds of thousands of people each year. The only catering allowed in the park at the moment is in the Visitor Centre - a publicly owned buidling which is leased to a catering company.
In 2013 I applied to the council for a permit to sell snacks and refreshments near to the Sailing Club end of the lake. I was told I had to take out public liability insurance - which I did. After that I was then told that they would not allow any additional catering within the grounds of the park because they "didn't want to affect the business of the person leasing the visitor centre". Since then, I have repeatedly tried to challenge this standpoint - which seems to have no legal basis, is anti-competitive and is against the interests of the park visitors.
On Sunday the 16th of March - one of the hottest days of the year so far - the visitor centre decided to keep their ice cream kiosk and bar closed. Visitors inside the building were offered a choice of one flavour of ice cream, out of about 12. With no competition being allowed by the council, they are left to charge whatever prices they choose.
I need your help to riase the profile of this issue with the Council. I have tried to question the policy with management to no avail. I am always told the same thing - that they wouldn't do anything to hurt the business of the company occupying the visitor centre.
Please add your name to my petition. When I have got enough entries, I intend to present it to the Council personally. Only then do I think they will consider this matter properly, and realise that their stance until now has been harmful to the interests, enjoyment and the finances of the people of Redditch (and visitors)!
35 Comments
haThis is the reason why I do not use the lake anymore. I go to Stratford its just as nice and hmore options.
we paid over £7 for a small ice cream,2packs of crisps,can pepsi and a coffee,the coffee was horrible tasteless and definetly not worth the money,i will not be waisting that amount of money again
We took our dog for a walk around the park recently and fed the ducka as you do, lovely warm day, very busy in the park itself but when we decidwd to go to the visitors centre for a coffee,outside there werw hardly any customers, i.side was as dead. we paid for two coffee's, (wish i hadnt bothered) the coffee was expensive and very poor quality basically a small cup of brown tastless liquid. the outside bar was cloaed so no choice there either. competition is healthy not hurtfull to existingbusiness unless that business is substandard in product and service already. More choice is needed from additional service providers to invoke heqlthy competion and healthy choice and a much better experience for visitors.
when i take my dog around the lake i would like a coffee half way but because there is no outside cafe i cant get a cup i dont want to tie my dog up outside incase she get stolen
People need to have a choice no business should have a monopoly and be able to charge whatever they want more choice = competion which drives down the prices and makes the co owners of the country side centre to work harder with no competition you sense they don t care
another kiosk would be a great idea for people to choose not to have to go into the visitor centre which is dark gloomy over-priced and not very child friendly!
catering choice is needed
a greater variety of food available in Redditch would be brilliant, and AVP would be a great place to start. Lets have more imagination food wise from the council - and there is plenty of room for a fair few independents down at AVP.
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haThis is the reason why I do not use the lake anymore. I go to Stratford its just as nice and hmore options.