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Harendra Bhatt, Igor Novak and Nabil Haridi |
Defiant newsagent finds spot on station doorstep
BUSINESSES evicted from outside Highbury and Islington station two weeks ago are seeking a new home.
Newsagent Harendra Bhatt has set up a tiny stall on the pavement less than a metre from the spot where his kiosk once stood, in defiance of Network Rail, which evicted the four businesses at the end of last month.
He said: “My customers are here. My stand now is a metre by two metres. The council is powerless to act. Staying here, I’ll be breathing right down Network Rail’s necks.”
One of the businesses, Sanders Florist, was given a new home on the site but Highbury Creperie, Mr Bhatt’s kiosk and Caffe Mobile, a coffee stand, are officially homeless.
Igor Novak and Nabil Haridi, who run Caffe Mobile, have locked their stand in a garage and are desperately searching for a spot near the station after customers begged them not to move too far.
While they hunt for a new place, they have entered Islington’s Street Trader of the Year competition, hoping that if they win someone might help with their plight.
Loyal customers organised a 2,700-signature petition and wrote to the Tribune in support of the business, vowing not to buy from any chain coffee store that may spring up in their place.
Mr Novak said: “The 2,700 signatures count for nothing. We’ve not found it easy to relocate. I’ve proposed a few places but for some reason the council won’t find them acceptable.”
Mr Haridi added: “The people want us here. We’re popular but nobody cares.”
Both Mr Bhatt and Caffe Mobile’s owners have asked council planners for permission to move across the road to the pavement outside Barclays Bank but have been refused. They are still hoping Islington Council will come up with an alternative spot handy for passengers coming out of the station.
The space where the businesses used to stand is now behind large blue hoardings.
Network Rail has told traders they can re-tender for their old spots but they fear they will be priced out by larger companies.
Mr Bhatt believes the tender process would send costs soaring.
“I did not put in a tender,” he said. “They want us to pay insurance for public pavements, any advertisements, maintenance, loss of revenue if we don’t trade on Sundays, even though we pay rent.
“I told them the conditions are not flexible. They will bleed me dry. They said take it or leave it.”
The council had offered him a stand at Nag’s Head in Holloway but he rejected it. |
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