Teignmouth's Beachcomber cafe looking for new tenant

It follows a long legal dispute.

Following the fire, Teignbridge successfully prosecuted Mr Ralph Brown, a Director of CDVB, for putting staff at risk from asbestos by returning to the fire-ravaged building to retrieve property. In doing so, they had ignored barriers erected by Teignbridge to protect the public from harm.

Brown, aged 55, of Jetty Marsh Road, Newton Abbot, in January 2020 admitted failing to protect employees from exposure to asbestos.

His former company CDVB, of the same address, admitted four counts of failing to make a proper risk assessment, exposing staff and the public to risk of asbestos, failing to mitigate the unplanned release of asbestos and failing to prevent the spread of asbestos.

Brown, who resigned as director of the company last year, was fined £1,000 and the company was fined a total of £10,000. They were ordered to pay a total of £28,982.41 costs by Recorder Mr Paul Grumbar at Exeter Crown Court.

There then followed a challenge to the validity of Teignbridge’s notice on the tenant that the council did not wish to renew the tenancy but wanted to repossess the building.

That legal process came to an end on Thursday when a Judge ruled in favour of Teignbridge’s termination of tenancy notice for the premises and awarded the council full costs.

The council is now looking forward to assigning a new tenant to the café and hope to sign up the tenant as soon as possible.

A spokesman for Teignbridge District Council said: “We’re pleased that the unfortunate delays over reinstatement of the fire-damaged Beachcomber Café premises as a popular local eatery are nearing an end.

“Throughout this process, the Council’s only concern has been getting the right outcome for the public – both in terms of the business being operated in the best interests of the town, its residents and visitors, and the tenancy being managed to get best value for our Council Tax Payers.

“We welcome this week’s court judgement clarifying the situation with regard to the legally entitled tenant of the café premises. This vindicates the council’s position and brings to an end what became an unnecessarily acrimonious dispute. This is not a cause for celebration – merely a victory for common sense.

“We will now proceed apace with tendering the opportunity so that arrangements to sign up a new tenant can be made as soon as possible. We will be seeking expressions of interest from new applicants, as well as getting back in touch with parties who had previously indicated they might want to take on the tenancy.

“This will enable the Beachcomber premises to re-open and once again serve the local community and the large influx of visitors who come to Teignmouth.”