Due to be evicted last Friday, Plush SE16 – which has been on the site for over twenty years – has been granted a stay of execution of one more month by its landlord, who says she is determined to have housing built on the site.
Landowner Gillian Vafaey, who owns the site on Rotherhithe New Road, says her decision to evict the five businesses after twenty years is to ‘realise her dreams’ and build housing ‘for the community.’
She has owned the plot in Rotherhithe New Road, Surrey Quays for 30 years and ran businesses on the site with her late husband. She then leased the units to Michael Clinkett in 2002, who set up Plush SE16 – which consists of a Caribbean takeaway, hairdresser, barber, car wash and music studio.
This enclave of businesses had been served with an eviction notice for March 17, after a court ruled in Mrs Vafaey’s favour, but Plush SE16 had received the backing from MP Neil Coyle and ward councillors, who say he should be relocated before full planning permission can go ahead.
Attempts to find a new home for Plush SE16 by a developer, who got outlining planning permission for a tower block on the site, and Southwark Council have so far been fruitless. And without relocation, the council has refused to grant developer Regent Land full planning permission.
Responding to attempts by the News to see if Mrs Vafaey would consider a stay of execution she said: “My dream is to leave a legacy and help the community with more housing, which is desperately needed. My husband and I operated businesses out of the site for years before Mr Clinkett set up his businesses there. In that time we allowed him to have the plots at a lower than market rent and for him to be in the properties rent-free for three months last year.
“Now, since my husband passed away, I want to retire and sell the land, but I also want to do some good for the community me and my husband worked in. That is why I want to sell the land to a developer so they are able to build much-needed housing.”
Mr Clinkett disputes any suggestion that he was deliberately not paying rent for three months, saying he was directed by the judge to keep it aside to be paid when the lease issue was resolved.
On February 17, a judge ordered Mr Clinkett to leave the land by March 17. Mr Clinkett asked for a further extension on March 16 to April 19 to allow him to remove all equipment on the site, which Mrs Vafaey said she has granted.
“While he was due to leave the site on March 17th I have said he can have another month as a gesture of goodwill,” she said.
When asked for comment on being granted an extension, Mr Clinkett said this was the first he was hearing of it and claimed the landlord had not contacted him directly.
Mustafa Sidki, a specialist litigation solicitor from firm Thackray Williams, speaking on behalf of Mrs Vafaey said: “My client wishes to sell her land, which is her right, and retire but she is being thwarted by the tenant who refuses to leave. To her credit, my client wishes this land to be of a real benefit to the community and for it to be used for housing but has been forced to take this legal action to sell it. We hope the tenant will finally vacate the land so my client can realise her dreams.”
Mr Clinkett, who said he is currently dismantling the businesses he spent over 20 years building, added: “If Mrs Vafaey had asked the community, she would know what they really want.”
Regent Land originally applied to build the tower block with 48 new homes, twelve of which would be for social rent and one for ‘intermediate rent’. Southwark’s planning regulations currently require that 35 per cent of new development must have ‘affordable housing’.
The council has said it will still continue to look for an alternative site for Plush SE16, but whether that is before the new eviction remains to be seen.
Develop and Destroy is what this eviction intends to do.
What kind of half-hearted dream is this? We want to be relocated and Regent Land and Developments must deliver on our relocation strategy so we can continue to trade. Southwark Council have said ‘no relocation’ then ‘no planning granted’. So why such a hard eviction as opposed to supporting our relocation?
PlushSE16 family is calling on everyone to comment on this article; all our friends and community family it’s the first time our Landlord has spoken out, so share your views, and speak out – seeing as Gillian is so set on delivering on her ‘Community Development Dreams’.
#nopriceonculture #saveplushse16
The landlord shouldn’t have to pay the price for the council’s failings but the community will pay a much higher price if these businesses are evicted. The fight shouldn’t be between the little guys, but against the council and the developers who will profit most from the destruction of these businesses. Separate from financial losses and mass unemployment, the black community can’t afford to lose this hub of unity and compassion. Fairness isn’t too much to ask. Anything less will be detrimental to the community.