Hairdressing salon is not the right cut to make (From Gazette Series)

Hairdressing salon is not the right cut to make

8:03am Thursday 12th April 2007

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A SALON in Yate Leisure Centre is "a waste of space" which should be used for leisure facilities.

This is the view of Yate Town Council, which is opposing plans to replace the on-site male sauna with an independent hairdressers.

Councillors are angry the increased revenue generated by the salon is being put above the need for better sporting and changing facilities - and also argues Yate already has plenty of hairdressers.

Cllr Chris Wilmore, said: "Residents want a leisure centre with leisure facilities, not a business.

"If the only concern is that more money will be generated in rent from the salon than the sauna then why not just build a department store which would give the most money?

"Getting more money is not the point and it will be a waste of space that could be used for disabled equipment or to enhance the sporting facilities for people in Yate.

"Why would anyone go into another hairdressers anyway. The idea is based on the model at Bradley Stoke but that was a totally different situation."

Mark Crutchley, chief executive of South Gloucestershire Leisure Trust, which runs the centre with South Gloucestershire Council, answered the objections in a letter to a council planning officer by saying the number of hairdressers in Yate was not the trust's concern.

It was only a question for the potential salon owner making the application.

The trust was only concerned with the amount of revenue it could generate and said this was a "positive business decision".

On the question of the space being wasted, Mr Crutchley said: "The proposed hairdressing salon will occupy only a very small floor space in respect of total leisure centre size and does not adversely affect its overall operation for sport."

He went on to say that only the male sauna would be lost with the female one being renovated and changed into a unisex facility.

He added that the trust was supporting the application.

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