When travelling fish and chip truck, The Jolly Fryer, announced on social media on Monday night that they’d no longer be trading from outside the former Chale Green Stores on Wednesday evenings, they were met with dismay from customers.
The post explained that The Jolly Fryer had been told by the owner of Chale Green Stores, Vern Tyerman, that they needed to stop using the forecourt from this week.
The story is complex so News OnTheWight spoke to all parties to dig deeper into what was happening.
Traded in Chale for 20+ years
Caroline and Andy Phillips say they have traded in Chale for 20+ years, serving fish and chips to the local community each week.
Andy told News OnTheWight that when the Chale Green Stores closed in 2019 the Jolly Fryer saw a 50 per cent drop in trade. Due to the dramatic lack of trade, they had planned to withdraw from Chale.
However, when the pandemic arrived in March 2020 things changed for the couple. Andy explained,
“Since Covid hit, our trade has been excellent and although we’d talked about slowing down we certainly wouldn’t have chosen the busiest weeks of the year to do so.
“Closing on Wednesdays right now has lost us a huge chunk of business which we hadn’t planned on yet.”
Converting to residential
The site in question has been subject to a planning application to convert into residential properties. Despite local objections from the villagers and the parish council, the application was approved by the Isle of Wight council planning department earlier this summer.
Vern Tyerman told News OnTheWight,
“The shop and post office was great while it lasted, but modern economics and shopping habits have made it unsustainable. I therefore responded to the demand for moderately priced homes by applying for permission to convert the redundant brownfield property to residential use.
“The IW Council took over six months to carefully consider my application, and the issues that were raised against it. On June 28th, my application was granted, and I am proceeding to bring the three plots to the market.”
Notice given was “quite frankly, appalling”
Andy from The Jolly Fryer told News OnTheWight that although he appreciated the property belongs to Vern and that “he should be allowed to do as he wishes”, the amount of notice given “was, quite frankly, appalling”.
He also told News OnTheWight that being given 48 hours notice to quit was “shabby”, adding, “we wouldn’t treat our customers like that.”
Vern further explained his actions,
“I need to partially demolish some of the structure to separate the two buildings, and there will be work required to create separate utility services for the three plots.
“Since these will shortly be three residences it made sense to draw an end to my arrangement with the Jolly Fryer. They plan to continue their service in Godshill and Niton, so not a million miles away.”
Asset of Community Value
Chale Parish Council has recently had the site listed as an Asset of Community Value, meaning they have until 28th December to put together a plan of securing the purchase of Chale Green Stores either as a single plot or as a whole.
News OnTheWight has asked the Isle of Wight council what happens if a site that is subject to an ACV is demolished and built on within the six month period. We’ll update you once we hear back.
Dispute over common land
The ACV is not the only possible sticking point for Mr Tyerman.
There are claims that the land in front of Chale Green Stores is common land and not owned by Mr Tyerman.
News OnTheWight has seen the title documents and the boundary line appears just beyond the property’s footprint and does not include the forecourt area. The issue is something that Chale Parish Council have discussed and are pursuing.
Tyerman: “Do not want to enter public debate”
News OnTheWight asked Vern whether he agreed that the forecourt land was not owned by him and why he included it in his planning application.
He told us,
“The issues surrounding boundaries are technically and legally complicated. I do not want to enter a public debate around these issues.”
Phillips: “A very volatile situation”
This does appear to a complex issue with lots of variables and disputes that may take some time to resolve.
Andy Phillips told News OnTheWight,
“We’re piggies in the middle of what appears to be a very volatile situation.
“I’ve had versions from both sides of this issue, directly from the mouths of those involved, and quite frankly it’s coming across like a bunch of school kids accusing each other.”
Image: © The Jolly Fryer
