‘Student flats bid makes me fear for my future’
TAKEAWAY BOSS IS WORRIED PLANS COULD END HIS BUSINESS
A RADFORD takeaway boss says his business faces an uncertain future because of plans for student accommodation.
But the landlord of the property in Alfreton Road says the area is in need of investment.
Leaseholder Mohammed Ishaq, whose takeaway Dixy Chicken is on the ground floor, is worried about what might happen to his livelihood.
Mr Ishaq, of Hyson Green, said he was concerned for his staff.
He said: “And myself – if I go out of business, who is going to give me a job now?
“I’d rather that I stay in my business than claiming on the dole from the Government.
“I haven’t claimed all my life. I don’t intend to claim now.”
The building, on the corner of Forest Road West, used to house the Forest Inn.
Plans submitted to Nottingham City Council are for 25 student bedrooms.
The landlord, a director of Cure Restoration and Tomlinsons Holdings, who asked not to be named, said: “There’s a 21-year break-out clause that they requested. First and foremost it was their request that I actually put that in for them back then.
“I actually said to them when we were signing up ‘have a 50-year lease’ – and they were like ‘no, we want a break-out after 21 years.’ After 21 years either one of us can give a notice of six months and break away.
“That was actually stipulated by them and their solicitors.
“I am somebody who’s looking to invest in the area. I want to improve the area. I only want to develop the site.”
He added: “It’s about trying to put something back in the community. It’s about trying to bring the whole area [up].
“I look at the area, that particular area – no real investment has been made in that area.”
When asked about the possibility of the takeaway closing, the landlord said: “At this particular moment in time it’s a very big if. At the end of the day, yes, we have put in that application. It’s an application – if it gives us an opportunity to be able to do something in the future, great.
“It’s not here and now. There are no plans to be able to build this tomorrow. None whatsoever.
“We’re not trying to push anybody out in any way, shape or form.
“We’re not trying to put them in any sort of predicament or anything. They are very well within their rights to, if they don’t want to leave, whatever the legal channels are, they can take them down that road. That’s not a problem. We are more than happy to negotiate and discuss anything.”
He said the application was to “explore avenues and to be able to see whether there are other options and opportunities to improve the area and that’s the reason why we’re doing it”.
Five other members of staff work at the takeaway and Mr Ishaq said: “It’s a main road, it’s in the middle of two universities so Nottingham Trent is the closest one, I think, and there’s a lot of student accommodation nearby,” he said. “Everybody walks by, whoever goes to the town on the way back they definitely come into the shop. It’s in a prime location.”