Violet Avenue newsagency in danger

2:30pm Thursday 23rd October 2008

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A MASSIVE hike in rent prices is taking its toll on a Hillingdon shopkeeper who could be forced to close down.

Bayliffs were sent round to the newsagents in Violet Avenue because the owner has fallen behind with his payments to Hillingdon Council.

In three years, Sunil Patel’s rate has been increased by the council more than 50 per cent.

Known as Sunny in the area by his local customers, the 49-year-old is angry about the prices he has to pay.

He cannot afford to stock up the shelves and has fallen ill due to the stress.

Mr Patel said: “I am stuck in a situation where if I pay the council, then I can’t pay for the electricity. Then I lose even more.

“I had a heart attack three years ago when they put the rent up.”

Mr Patel said due to his health problems and regular appointments with his GP and the hospital, he has not had the chance to call the council to explain as often as he should.

In the last three-year period to this year, Mr Patel’s rent was set at around £7,800 but has recently been put up to more than £10,000.

The father-of-two, who has been running the shop for 12 years, said: “Nobody in this area wants me to go.

“I depend on these 500 houses in this estate. It is a fixed business, it’s not like a high street where there are different people coming and going all the time.

“Everyone knows me and I know everyone, especially the elderly people because they rely on me.”

Mr Patel added: “What annoys me the most is that this is a residental area and they are charging me high street rates.”

Gay Brown of the Yiewsley Community Involvement Group has been campaigning across the borough for fairer rent prices during the current economic climate.

Ms Brown said: “I have been in touch with Mr Patel who told me about his problems.

“I think it is outrageous to put the rent up so high. This is a residential shop and yet it is being compared to the high street.

“It is ridiculous to send the bayliffs, Mr Patel suffered a heart attack due to this stress.”

Hillingdon Council has said because the business rate is set by central government, it is the valuation office there who would deal with any discrepencies.

Because the council is the collecting authority, it had to send the bayliffs round after Mr Patel fell behind with his payments.