Fury as Paige shop to go on the market
Deli should stay shut, say residents
The shop where tragic Paige Doherty was murdered is set to be rented out again.
The Delicious Deli takeaway, where Paige was killed by evil John Leathem, has been closed since her death in March.
Now landlord Lakhbir Singh says he’s considering putting the Clydebank shop back up for rent.
But community leader John White said locals never want to see the premises in use again.
Mr White, 52, community councillor for Clydebank East, said: “It’s outrageous to think the shop will be open again.
“No one in the community wants to see it open again – ever.
“The landlord should be taking that into consideration.
“No one in this community will go in there, after all it’s where Paige was killed. Even something like a youth centre would fail there.
“We had talked about seeing if we could use it as a base for the community council but that was roundly rejected.”
Most residents wanted to see the shop demolished, but Mr White admitted they were realistic enough to know it wouldn’t be possible as it was connected to two other properties.
He added: “We are at a loss as to what to do with the shop and it’s a huge dilemma.
“It cannot even be knocked down because it is attached to other businesses where people make their livelihoods.”
Mr Singh, 54, who owns a number of properties in the area, told The Sunday Post he was considering instructing letting agents to put the shop back on the market.
But he admitted it might be difficult to find a tenant.
He said: “If I had heard all the background about the place I’d probably think twice before renting and I’m sure it’s going to be like that.
“We have a few rental properties and we could never have imagined something like this.
“We would sell if somebody came up with an offer. “Options are there. “Hopefully somebody takes the place and brings something that will add to the community.”
Mr Singh had hoped a community centre might open in the premises, but the idea had not been received well.
Leathem stabbed Paige more than 60 times on March 19.
He tried to cover up the brutal murder by taking her body out of the deli in a black bin bag, dumping her by the side of Great Western Road.
He claimed in court that Paige had threatened to tell people he had touched her if he didn’t give her a job.
Judge Lady Rae dismissed his defence as an “excuse”.