Business owners reeling over council’s order to leave estate in 3 months
BUSINESS owners have been left dismayed after they were told to leave an industrial estate in three months.
Sandwell Council has told firms at Smethwick Enterprise Centre they need to be out by January ahead of regeneration plans, which will see the Rolfe Street-based site demolished.
Businesses were first told of the council’s plans in July however they were given a formal notice, on October 20, ordering them to vacate their premises within three months on January 20.
Around 35 companies and organisations currently occupy the former fire station site, including a homeless charity, a long-standing engineering firm, a dairy and a flooring business. Some said they feel the council has given them little notice to leave and they are now fearing for their futures and livelihoods.
Bal Singh, from Bearwood Flooring, who has been at the council-run site for 17 years, said: “We feel like we have been neglected by Sandwell Council. This was a thriving business park when I arrived in 2005.
“Slowly and slowly, they have neglected it. People have left this site and now they have given us notice to vacate and they will demolish the site. Everyone is going to be homeless.
Tyra Hussain, who works at homeless charity Now Support, said: “They have told us we need to leave these offices. It is not enough time.”
She said relocating would cost the charity thousands of pounds, taking money ‘away’ from homeless people which it provides with rooms and food. “It is very hard to cut back,” she added.
Wayne Hickman, who runs Hickman Dairies, was angry at having spent £30,000 on refrigerators at his unit – only to be told he must now leave. And he claims there has been problems getting in touch with the council.
“I employ nine people, all workers with young families,” he said. “When I first came here, it was heaving. Now it has become rack and ruin.
“I understand things move on. But Sandwell Council is supposed to look after the interests of all.
“We have been treated quite shabbily. It makes me wonder, is it all motivated by money?
“Companies have been here 30 years, invested their money and paid their rent.
“I have never, ever missed a payment or been late.
“To treat us so shabbily, and (offer us) no compensation really, no help in moving, no grant fund we can allocate, (they) refuse to speak to us - after 15 years of being good renters, I think it is diabolical really.”
Ali Akbar, finance manager at We Do Rentals, said his company moved to its unit three years ago, investing “quite a lot of money” in the premises, including a dedicated phone line. He added: “This is our busiest time of year, in
the run up to Christmas. We haven’t got any more time to be looking for a new location.”
One of the longest-running businesses based at the estate is Hinal Engineering Limited, which has been going for 30 years.
Ishver ‘Ash’ Patel, 70, who is the non-profit making director, says there are old machines there that only specialists based in Bolton can move.
“They would charge between £150 and £200 to come down,” he said, adding they charge £70 an hour. The company also makes specialist parts, making them an important business in supply chains with other companies.
His daughter Chetna Patel added: “We feel the council has acted shady.
Our rent moment.
“We’re looking at £400 to £500 if we moved. But we haven’t found any alternative site yet.”
Mrs Patel, whose husband Mittal works for the family-run business, too, feared their prices would rise if they moved and it could have a knock on effect with their customers. “They will probably close down,” she added.
Businesses say they have been offered up to £5,000 in compensation, which would cover moving costs. But that would dwarf the losses they would suffer as a result of relocating, they claim.
A petition has now been launched to save the industrial estate. To sign it, visit change.org
is £270 a month, at the
We have been treated quite shabbily. It makes me wonder, is it all motivated by money? Wayne Hickman