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Andy Dudman, of Dudman's Greengrocer, has started a petition to try to stay in town after learning he'd have to close by June 4 due to the upcoming town centre regeneration
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Town's last greengrocer fights to stay on the High Street

By Becky Barnes
February 28, 2013

The town’s last greengrocer which faces closure to make way for the regeneration is campaigning to stay on the High Street.

More than 550 loyal customers have pledged their support to save Dudman’s Greengrocer in Bracknell after owner Andy Dudman was served noticed by his landlord.

He started the petition last week to gauge public support for him to stay in the town after learning he would need to close by June 4, before demolition of Crossway and Broadway starts.

Andy, whose family has run greengrocer’s shops in Bracknell and Reading for 143 years, said: “I am amazed at the response – it is really, really good.

“I felt quite proud people want us, this is an opportunity.”

The 52-year-old, from Birch Hill, is calling on Bracknell Regeneration Partnership (BRP) to help him find a suitable unit and is hoping something temporary can be set up in front of fencing which will cut in front of his current shop when the neighbouring streets are demolished.

He said: “We asked customers if they still wanted to see a fruit and veg stall in the new town and wondered if they were bothered if I stay.

“It was a very positive response and some said if I was not in the new town they would complain.

“But there is nowhere suitable for me at the moment.”

Andy, who has been in his current shop for five years, said BRP has asked if he would be interested in a temporary unit in front of the

hoardings and believes he is on a list of people interested.

He went on: “Everything else is too expensive. My profit margins are not that large – there are not a lot of earnings to cover wages and rent.

“It is very close to running at a loss in a town which is not that busy.”

The greengrocer, who also sells at Bracknell Market, has considered finding an empty unit to share with another retailer but claims BRP has not given him enough help.

He said: “They don’t come and offer you anything. Nobody has even bothered to say ‘are you interested in these units’?

“Come June 4 I would just have had to leave – unless you do it yourself no one is going to come along.

“But I want to say to BRP that people who come to your town do actually want me.”

Helen Barnett, the marketing manager at BRP, said: “Dudman’s Greengrocers is located in Crossway, so as part of the regeneration of the northern area of the town centre the shop needs be vacated on or before June 4.

“Hoardings will then need to be put up around the demolition site for it to be demolished.

“BRP is looking at a host of different ideas to enhance the town centre while the regeneration is taking place and hope to be in a position to let people have more information about these in the coming months.

“These ideas will endeavour to bring vibrancy to the town centre while it is being regenerated.”

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HK - sounds like the store / stall holders have had a hard time so I wish you the best for it all, whatever happens. Like in Wokingham I hope the market and independents continue to have a place (or more of a place) post-regeneration.

alex_f, Wokingham
28/02/2013 at 18:23

Soz folks, I use "Word" to compose and did use paragraphs but alas, on pasting, they have gone!

HK, bracknell
28/02/2013 at 18:14

Cont.....Tom – Yes, Andy does have a big stall at the market but size isn’t everything! When the market was vibrant then yes, he did take good money but alas, as Tonk pointed out, because of the lack of help from anyone relating to the market, it has gone downhill. When was the last time you saw something telling you that anyone can take a stall on an ad-hock basis? When was the last time you saw eye catching advertising for the market around the town? Is it any wonder it has become what it is when people don’t even know it’s still open? Us traders do all we can but without help from the bigger boys, we are banging our heads against a brick wall. Same goes for town traders – no help from those who should be giving help. I just wish “Harrods” would consider moving into the market as they would fill the place and then their customers would come in and the market would at least have some life.

HK, bracknell
28/02/2013 at 18:12

“They don’t come and offer you anything. Nobody has even bothered to say ‘are you interested in these units’? This is exactly what we are all up against. This is why we (town and market traders) are always bleating on about BRP and the council (sorry about that WSS). We are never told or offered anything. We are given a lip service to keep us quiet all the time. “WhySoSerious” –yes, we have known about it for ages but as I say, there has been no help at all from BRP or the council and believe me, it’s not been through our lack of trying to get answers or help. I know Andy has tried and tried to get help but it’s never forthcoming and each idea he comes up with is thwarted. Even the Look-in is being shoved in a place that really isn’t fit for the elderly to access. Yet another way of shutting them up for a while without giving any proper thought to how these poor souls are going to get to it safely. “BRP is looking at a host of different ideas to enhance the town centre while the regeneration is taking place and hope to be in a position to let people have more information about these in the coming months.” - They have had years to come up with something for these traders but now they are likely to be put out of business. Then, perhaps, maybe, in a few months (no doubt years) they might, possibly, come up with some “ideas” for where the independents might go. By this time, many will have either given up the will to live or gone elsewhere.”Ideas” are not going to save them in the short term. Is this really what the people of Bracknell want? Perhaps it is but going by the number of people Andy has on his “Questionnaire”, it seems to reflect how many feel – well, over 550 of the town folk anyway.

HK, bracknell
28/02/2013 at 18:11

Why so serious: As time passing states, the written word can come across differently than the spoken word where one can pick up tone and body language.

Regarding "Daily Mail" type; I actually refer to those that appear not to give a toss about other people's misfortune or may justify someone loosing their livelyhood because they themselves may have been laid off once.

I am glad that you buy fresh food from smaller businesses as do I: I enjoy cooking and make things from scratch. Now I am retired I have enough time to do so. I also go to farmer's markets as well as, as many general markets I can get to.

I agree that Bracknell Market is not what it used to be and that is down to the management, its location and the big supermarkets, in my opinion.

Tom Edwards:

This is indeed the same Dudman that has the large stall at Bracknell market but, the market is only there two days a week: not enough to make a living from and as whysoserious points out, the market is not what it used to be.

Tonk, Wokingham
28/02/2013 at 15:50

WhySoSerious the written word is easy to misinterpret and if I have done you an injustice then I am sorry. As someone said earlier, you cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs but other than BRP not many would start breaking those eggs without getting the bowl out of the cupboard.

BRP have still not decided what temporary premises will be made available nor who will be offered them so to issue eviction notices is out of order. It is BRP who could not arrange a p*ss up in a brewery hence the way they have blighted this town for decades. Until the regeneration is complete there are not enough suitable premises for all and the rents being demanded mean some traders have no choice but to quit the town. Try googling for shop premises, the only surprise is how anyone can make a living with the rents demanded. 20' x 20'? That'll be £30,000 per annum plus business rates. The old Boots Opticians was advertised at £70k per annum plus around £17k rates.

These monkeys at BRP have taken their cut and enjoyed a nice lifestyle for very little achievement. Even now this is a stack of cards and while they might knock down half the town come summer I think we will be living with an open space for a long time.

timespassing
28/02/2013 at 14:15

Very good point alex_f

"Was the earth made to preserve a few covetous, proud men to live at ease, and for them to bag and barn up the treasures of the Earth from others, that these may beg or starve in a fruitful land; or was it made to preserve all her children?" - Gerrard Winstanley, 1649

Winstanley, Bracknell
28/02/2013 at 14:09

Just one thing which occurred to me recently, also relating to the horsemeat scandals:

Supermarkets tend to do alot of token community stuff to pretend they care about where their supermarket is. Support the odd local charity, do a few things with local schools.

My view would be that if supermarkets truly care about the communities they are in - how about supporting local traders? e.g stock the items from local bakers, butchers, greengrocers or farmers, and get rid (or realistically - reduce the size) of their in-house butchers / bakers. So if the Tesco / Waitrose / Sainsburys does well, it also filters down to the butcher / baker / greengrocer / farmer?

alex_f, Wokingham
28/02/2013 at 13:52

Looks like I've upset some people - this was not my intention.

Firstly, 'Tonk' - I am most definitely a 'Daily Mail Type' - I completely support local business and try as much as I can to buy meat, fruit and veg locally - I'd also like to point out that I love markets - although surely people here have to agree that ours isn't what it once was.

Timepassing - I read the article. I agree that in an ideal world there would be a place for the traders in Broadway/Crossway to move to. But other than the temporary location mentioned, where do you suggest? I'm afraid although my opinion is obviously one that annoys people (not everyone, many of my friends and work colleagues share the same views) it's what is happening in 2013. I'd also like to add that I work part time at a business that will be directly affected by the regeneration. I'm upset that its happening, may lose my job, but accept that the way it is.

WhySoSerious, Bracknell
28/02/2013 at 13:29

Is this the same Dudmans who also has a BIG stall at the Market??

Tom Edwards, Bracknell
28/02/2013 at 13:07

WhySoSerious I suggest you go back and read the article again. I understand there may or may not be some kind of temporary premises erected between Charles Square and the Crossways and the greengrocer may or may not be allocated one of these. Meanwhile he has been served notice of eviction and BRP in relation to temporary premises reply they 'hope to be in a position to let people have more information about these in the coming months'. As regards moving to another town I assure you if I was a Bracknell trader and was treated like this that is exactly what I would do but I don't have family ties so am reasonably mobile.

Were I a prospective trader looking to open in this area and saw how existing traders are treated I assure you Bracknell would not make a shortlist.

We have here the chance for this regeneration to finally go ahead and the biggest obstacle as always is BRP.

timespassing
28/02/2013 at 12:40

I do wish "curly" luck with securing a temporary site.

We hear many "Daily Mail" type views for people like Whysoserious however, these types of shops are vital to many of us that don't want to use money grabbing supermarkets: it is the supermarket chains that have destroyed so many of our town centres. What many forget is that there are people, yes real people with feelings and needs behind statistics.

Alternative arangements for small, independent traders are needed for during the regeneration process, or these small businesses will not survive, in which case, all the new units will be taken over by large national chains and the town centre will look like every other in the country. People will then have fewer choices and, because Bracknell will be the same as everywhere else, there will be little to attract people to the town and thus, the cycle of deprivation and decay begins again. I hope the powers to be do much to try to attract smaller, unique and specialist businesses to the town post regeneration but, I have my doubts. I just hope that Curly and his peers will be able to afford the rent and ripp off business rates in Bracknell's brave new town centre world.

Tonk, Wokingham
28/02/2013 at 12:23

sounds like a fruitful attempt to stay open!

Martin Cairns
28/02/2013 at 12:07

The council should be providing help to vital shops like the greengrocers to enable them to relocate. He should not be left to search for his own alternative shop. The council should have agreed a continuity path for all such shops to enable them to survive through the regeneration including identifying their final location at the end of the process.

The whole regeneration is going to be far too fraught for many business owners and they should be helped through the complete process.

PoneRana, Wokingham
28/02/2013 at 12:00

WhySoSerious - I hear you. A key quote from this article is:

'It is very close to running at a loss in a town which is not that busy'

'Not that busy' - that's why it's happening.