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West End Extra - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published:10 April 2009

Plans for stars’ hotel

• YOUR article about Olivelli’s hotel (Show’s over? Stars’ hotel faces the axe, April 3) paints a misleading picture about The Bedford Estate’s plans for its properties in Store Street after the existing leases expire in December.
Talk of “the wrecker’s ball” and “major redevelopment of the area” is emotive and incorrect. Tenants in the street have been advised of the approximate extent of their dilapidations liabilities in accordance with their lease terms, but neither Domenic Spina nor any other tenants have been “…told…to pay a dilapidations fee…”
No letters to this effect have been sent by the estate.
If your reporter had spoken to other traders in the street he would have found out that I have had meetings with most of them in recent weeks. I have assured them all (including Mr Spina) that the one thing that is certain is that a major redevelopment of the estate’s holdings in the street is not on the cards.
Like any commercial organisation, we have to consider all options when leases expire, and this includes examining the potential for possible changes of use, one of which could be the conversion of the hotel to flats.
These deliberations have to remain confidential until decisions have been made.
If we opt to pursue any significant changes, planning permissions will be required.
When any planning applications have been submitted, the proposals will be in the public arena and subject to scrutiny through the planning process in the usual way.
It is slightly disingenuous of Mr Spina to protest that he cannot “bring the place up to the standard you would like” just as the lease is approaching its end.
Olivelli’s have held this lease for many years, paying a nominal ground rent and always knowing when it would expire.
MC de Rivaz
Steward
The Bedford Estates, WC1

* Editor’s note: We are pleased to publish Mark de Rivaz’s comments.
He was asked for his views by our reporter before our story was written last week but he declined of make any comment because of “commercial confidentiality”.

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, West End Extra, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@westendextra.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Wednesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld.
Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number.
Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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