Community rallies around traders facing eviction

Manager of The Grange Bakery Mandy Chubb said none of the traders wanted to leave

A strip of shops is facing an uncertain future after the businesses were served eviction notices.

Traders at Lakes Parade, in Barrow-in-Furness, have been told they need to be out of their units by Christmas, which has led to the community rallying around them to try and save the businesses.

Manager of The Grange Bakery Mandy Chubb said the eviction would have a "massive knock-on effect" on the lives of the tenants.

A spokesperson for the landlord said they were "unable to comment on the ongoing legal matters concerning tenants at Lakes Parade".

At least three jobs are at risk in the bakery, which only took over the tenancy in April.

Another three are at risk at Lakes Parade Laundry Services, where the owner is seriously ill with cancer and was about to sell the business after more than 20 years of trading.

She had said it was her retirement plan, but is now working out how she will cover redundancy payments.

More than 750 people have signed the petition to save the shops

Ms Chubb said she was "just quite upset" by the news.

"I love my job up here. It's great. The community up here's wonderful," she said.

"None of us want to go."

Ms Chubb, who became a grandma for the first time on Tuesday, added she was worried about the impact it would have on her family.

"It's that massive knock-on effect," she said.

More than 750 people have signed the Save the Parade petition since Wednesday.

Among them is regular customer Paul Irving.

"I think it's a massive shame," he said.

"I grew up around here in the '80s and these shops were here then.

"And, you know, they need them."

'There is a future'

The units are managed by West Midlands-based LCP Properties.

A spokesperson for the landlord said: "At this time, we are unable to comment on the ongoing legal matters concerning tenants at Lakes Parade.

"We understand the public interest in this situation, but due to the sensitive nature of the proceedings, we are not in a position to provide further details."

The shops hope the petition to the council will encourage it to refuse any plans that emerge, which may in turn convince the landlord to let them stay.

Westmorland and Furness Conservative councillor Niyall Phillips said he had been trying to talk to the landlord for about a month.

"I've had no success," he said.

"But they will see from the feel of the community and the feel from the local support which those businesses have generated that there is a need for them in the local area, there is a future for those businesses and it's something that the local community do support."