A VENUE which was home to Colchester's iconic Rollerworld remains empty a year on from the businesses' sad closure but hope is on the horizon after it was revealed the building is now under offer.
Rollerworld was based in Moorside, Eastgates, Colchester, for 32 years but closed on November 30 last year due to a price hike in rental costs by the landlord business, Petchey Holdings.
Almost a year on and the rental unit is still empty but appears to now be under offer, suggesting a new use could be on the cards.
Attempts by the Gazette to find out how much interest there had been in the site and what it may be used were not successful.
The venue is still listed on Petchey Holding’s website as a vacant part of its ‘Global Park, Colchester’ property, which boasts 14 different industrial units within Moorside.
The rental unit covers a staggering 27,781 square feet, and it costs £20,833 per calendar month, £250,000 a year to rent.
Passionate Rollerworld owners Jason and Anne Khan purchased Rollerworld back in November 2018, and originally had to pay only £100,000 a year for the unit.
Jason said: "The old building remains empty and requires a complete refit.
"Anne and I are determined not to lose such a much-loved institution from the UK, the formation of the Rollerworld Foundation charity (RWF) is a considerable first step to achieving the dream we all have of opening 'Rollerworld 2' at some point.
"The RWF has a meeting on November 30, a year to the day of the closure, to appoint officers from our amazing events volunteers and discuss fundraising ideas.
"We are all saddened at this time but excited by what could turn into something amazing."
Thankfully, Rollerworld’s spirit has continued even after the site closed, as Jason and Anne have worked in partnership with Charter Hall, in Cowdray Avenue, to put on a few select Rollerworld events.
Green councillor Richard Kirkby-Taylor, whose ward is close to the business park, has called for more rent control over commercial buildings.
He said: “The landlord business has shot themselves in the foot.
“A problem with letting the market self-regulate, people get greedy, and it hurts everybody.
“The entirety of Colchetser has been hurt from this.
“It is a very strong argument for rent control in commercial and residential properties, it is a beautiful example of why we are arguing for rental control at the Green Party."
A spokesman for Colchester Council said the authority hoped there would be a new occupier soon.
They said: “The closure of Rollerworld was a sad loss to the community and to Colchester as a visitor destination.
“We are confident that the market will bring forward a new business opportunity for this site in due course.”
The Gazette spent three days contacting Petchey Holdings for a comment but it did not get a response before going to print.
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