Asylum seeker charity takes on supermarket giant in property row
A charity that supports black and ethnic minority women and girls is battling Tesco for ownership of a listed Glasgow property.
Saheliya, based at St Rollox House in Springburn, had signed a ten-year-lease in 2014 for use of the property, which is owned by the supermarket.
However, when the charity applied to funders for grants to make the building secure, warmandwatertight,theywere informed that leases of at least 25 years were required.
Tesco initially offered to sell them the building for £305,000 – £20,000 over its valuation – rather than extend the lease.
However, the supermarket giant pushed the asking price up to £350,000 after the charity was able to raise enough money to cover the original charge.
Thecompanyhasalsorefused to extend the lease, leaving Saheliya unable to apply for funding from the Heritage Lottery to invest in the building.
Saheliya works with vulnerable and disadvantaged women and girls, many of whom are refugeesandasylumseekers,to supporttheirmentalwellbeing and tackle isolation and loneliness.
Chair of the charity, Shruti Jain, said: “We are baffled by Tesco’s stance on this. We want to look after the building and improve it for our users and were prepared to buy it at the original price.”
Sheadded:“peopleaskus‘why don’t we move elsewhere?’ But we are in the best location for our users, in the heart of the communities we serve. Many ofthewomenwouldnotbeable to reach us if we moved. They suffer from poverty, they may not speak English or be able to travel, and can be pretty much excluded from society.
"We have found over lockdown that many more women arecontactingusforsupport,so we are needed here.”
Scottish Labour MSP Paul Sweeney said the charity had “done a great job” making the building usable.
Hesaid:“tescoisbehavingina verychildishmannertowardsa charitythatdoesamazingwork in a building that is not fit for purpose.theyshouldeithersell it for a £1 or extend the lease.”a Tesco spokesperson said: “We recognisethatsaheliyaprovide importantservicesforthecommunity and we have worked with them to lease the property atareducedrate.wearenotina positiontomakeanylong-term decisions on St Rollox House at this time.”