Businessman: “Council showed no interest in my ideas”

Ashfield businessman Chris Hacket says Ashfield District Council showed no interest in his plans to develop Teversal Grange into a young people's snooker club.

Chris Hacket said: “We were looking at opening a snooker academy in Sutton - the nearest one is one in Sheffield.

“We tried to communicate with the council about the Grange but they were not interested at all.

“I phoned them five or six times and they kept saying they would get back to me and there was nobody in the office.

“When I eventually spoke to the person concerned he basically said put in an offer in writing.

“I told him couldn’t do that until I had inspected the building.

He just said he would get back to me if they didn’t decide to knock it down.”

A council spokesman said: Before the building was let to the last occupier, only two applications and associated business cases were received. All persons who made contact with the Council were encouraged to follow up their interest with firm proposals. Records to do not show any such proposals were received from Mr Hackett at that time and the Council is therefore not able to comment on the feasibility of his ideas.

It is correct to say that he has recently contacted the Council and any proposals he may have will be considered.”