Shopping centre to be renovated

The Village Shopping Centre on the corner of West and Oscar Sts in Umina is to be renovated.

However, not all tenants have welcomed the news.

M and M's Coffee proprietor Ms Margaret Stapleton said that many of the businesses in the complex were being asked to close while renovations by Coles Myer took place.

If they wanted to move back in afterward,s they would have to pay almost double their current rent, she said.

Ms Stapleton said that although she agreed the centre did need fixing up, she would not be able to afford the extra rent and was concerned for the well-being of her customers.

"I think it is the customers that are getting me upset the most," Ms Stapleton said.

"For most of them, coming here is a regular thing, where will they go if this shop isn't here?

"I have until New Years Eve to move out."

Ms Stapleton said that, to make matters worse, her store was broken into on December 1.

A sum of cash was stolen, including money which was to be donated to the Cancer Council as funds raised from selling daffodils.

"I can't afford to move back in. I suppose this is just progress," she said.

A shop manager in the centre whose business closed its doors recently, said she was concerned for the welfare of other businesses in Umina due to the renovations.

"I think Coles Myer couldn't care less about the community," said Ms Catherine Huxter of the Good News Treasure House.

"Their business is going to put so many other businesses out.

"The little guy is being overrun."

The church-run store has been forced to trade as a once-a-month market due to lack of funds.

However, Bilo corporate affairs officer Ms Claire McFarlane denied tenants were being "kicked out".

She said that most of the shop owners already had other premises to move into, and as most of the stores only rented on a month-to-month basis, six months was fair warning.

"All the current tenants can apply for new positions in the centre," Ms McFarlane said.

"I appreciate how customers feel, and we do understand that locals are fond of the shops, but most are moving to new premises."

"We realise change can be unsettling, but we think people will be pleased.

"I hope they will love the new tenants just as much, if the old ones don't move back in."

Ms McFarlane said the new centre would be more modern and cleaner, and the Bilo centre would be slightly larger.

The village shopping centre has been open since 1978.

Lyle Stone, December 8