Trust instructs bailiffs to take possession of pool's Lockhouse Lounge restaurant

By thepickler | Monday, March 28, 2011, 17:59

TRUSTEES of Portishead’s Open Air Pool have taken possession of the lido’s Lockhouse Lounge restaurant.

Bailiffs arrived at the pool this afternoon to issue a warrant on the tenant of the Lockhouse Lounge, Deborah Griffith, to take possession of the building.

Mrs Griffith, who opened the restaurant in May 2009, had been staging a sit in at the property since being issued with a notice to quit by Portishead Pool Community Trust on Friday.

Mrs Griffith refused to hand over the keys and vowed to stage a sit in at the restaurant to stop the trust taking the building back over.

Trustees cut off the electric to the Lockhouse Lounge on March 18 and issued Mrs Griffith with the notice on March 23 - giving her just two days notice to vacate the property.

It is understood an unpaid electricity bill of around £6,300 is at the centre of the dispute.

There has also a dispute over the alleged failure of the trust to issue the Lockhouse Lounge with a proper lease.

Currently Mrs Griffith only has a tenancy at will despite the granting of a five-year lease being a pre-condition of the trust's 99-year lease with North Somerset Council, which was granted in December 2010.

Police were called to the pool amid fears trouble could flare as the bailiffs and pool representatives took control of the building.

Mrs Griffith was not at the restaurant at the time and the property was being looked after by a friend.

A team of locksmiths were called in to secure the building and hand it back to the trust.

Certified bailiff Stephen Wood, of Able Investigations and Enforcement Solutions said: “We took peaceful possession of the property on behalf of the pool trust.

“Forfeiture notices have gone up on the restaurant building and any attempt to get back in will be deemed a criminal offence.”

Mrs Griffith, who has invested £160,000 in the restaurant over the last two years and employs a team of eight staff, had been pressing for talks between the pool trust and North Somerset Council in an attempt to resolve disagreements with the trust.

She says she is now considering suing the trust for damages and loss of earnings.

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Comments

Still no sign of a coherent explanation as to why the Trust is behaving in this manner, though it appears that Anniehall has found something on trip advisor about someone not liking their sausages. That would seem to about the level of analysis that has been gone into by the Trust when making this decision

By rodsowden at 19:58 on 03/04/11
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What is important here is the truth and the future of the pool, both of these things seems to be linked. Neither side will give the full truth, just their version so it is important to hear both sides so that people can judge for themselves.

I am pained that some people seem to be attempting to stifle open debate, or choose to blame a journalist for news they don't like. Press reports have to be balanced and fair, if not you can complain to the press complaints commission, but you can't complain just because the story didn't support your view.

This whole sorry saga was avoidable, unfortunately it has been played out in the press rather than being sorted out in a dignified and professional manner, the Lockhouse and the Trustees have to share the blame for failing to reach an amicable solution.

It is my sincere hope that these issues wil not have a detrimental effect on the pool which continues to be an asset to Portishead, and the surrounding areas.

By Nortech Computers at 09:25 on 03/04/11
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The contributors to this 'chat' should be absolutely ashamed of themselves for the unprofessional and callous way in which they have made comments on what is an open forum. This is nobody's business until the trustees make a formal statement and until they do, their actions seem bitter and scathing towards Deborah Griffith. I would also strongly advise OptimisticoP to re-think the content of his/her post above or be very, very sure of his/her facts. To publish in an open chat room the financial affairs of an individual by name and outlining their debts for all to see is beyond contempt and again unprofessional on so many levels and if you are a member of the trustees (which I suspect you are to have such information) you have probably divulged private and privilaged facts about the tennant and if I were Mrs Griffith I would take immediate legal advice and sue you to the fullest extent that the law will allow for slander and defamation of character.
Where is the monitoring and the editing on this site? The site moderator has a responsibility to ensure this type of content is accurate and fair and representative of the argument overall. This is extremely poor moderation.
As regards Roger Whitfield, as I understand it, you were one of the casualties of this group of Trustees closed ranks management style and my advice to you would be to refrain from commenting on these issues which just appear like petty, name calling squabbles. You are out of it now. You did an excellent job by being the driving force and Portishead owes you a huge debt of thanks but by associating yourself with these types of fringe, 'he said/she said' debates you are doing your good reputation no good whatsoever.
Lets all grow up and take a breath. This is a knee jerk debate based on some pretty shoddy and biased journalism and a lot of raised temperatures.
The trustees should make a formal statement in the local press and then this matter should be closed.
The people of Portishead aren't interested in your grubby back-biting politics, we are just happy that our kids have a great place to swim in the sunshine.
Go do your laundry somewhere else!

By trueblue1966 at 08:55 on 02/04/11
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to nortech computers... how did you know there was a trustees meeting last night? and you couldn't possibly know what was discussed..as you are no longer a trustee !

By anniehail at 23:23 on 01/04/11
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There should be an AGM or a statement from the trust to let the people of Portishead know what is going on before too many rumours start

By Iangrw at 14:25 on 01/04/11
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