Pit Stop in Southwold to close after 27 years in lease row

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A cafe owner is "fuming" she will have to close after 27 years after not having her lease renewed.

Anne Clarke has been a familiar and friendly face to visitors and locals alike in Southwold as she operated the Pit Stop Cafe and Tennis Courts on The Common.

She will serve her last coffee on October 31 as the Common Trust, which owns the site, has not renewed her lease.

Instead, the trust is planning to redevelop the site as a picnic and leisure area, providing accessible seating.

She said she would only have a few weeks to remove all her cafe equipment from the wooden premises, which used to be a soldier's billet, as she had to vacate the site by November 16.

But she was especially angry that her attempts to contact the trustees to find out what was happening to her lease had not received a response.

Trustees of the Common Trust said the Pit Stop cafe building was unsafe (Image: Submitted)

"I have not been told anything; that is why I am so cross with them. I wrote to them on April 8 for an extension, but there was no reply and I wrote last week, but there was no reply.

"I then got an email saying the lease was not going to be renewed," she said.

She understood that the trustees had deemed her cafe premises to be unsafe and had condemned the building, but said no-one had ever visited to assess the property.

Any repairs to the building had been carried out after she had raised the money for the work, while she said the business had operated as a community cafe, providing facilities for local child minders.

To make matters worse, the trustees have received a grant for the picnic area project, she said.

"All I can say is I am annoyed at the way I have been treated and they are now saying they have got a grant when I am the tenant. It is just disgusting."

In a statement, the trust said: "The Trustees of the Common Trust have exciting future plans for the site of the Pit Stop which has traditionally been well used and appreciated as a family friendly leisure area.

"The Trustees wish to express their gratitude and appreciation to Anne Clarke for managing the Pitstop café and tennis courts over recent years.

"However, ongoing risks & legislation require that significant changes must be made to the site - gorse clearance to reduce fire risks, increasing health & safety regulations - however such change can bring forward future opportunities .

"The trustees aim to re-develop the site, initially providing a family-friendly picnic and leisure area.

"We have been awarded a grant toward accessible picnic seating, and as always intend to secure the future of tennis on this site.

"Further grant aid will be sought and all future plans will focus on carefully and safely designed facilities which will enhance this popular site and retain the family-friendly vibe."

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