Firms' anger over 'impossible' eviction order

About 20 firms have been given a month to leave the premises ahead of maintenance work

Business owners at a Nottinghamshire industrial park say they have been left with an "impossible task" after they were given a 30-day deadline to vacate their premises.

About 20 firms at Botany Commercial Centre in Botany Avenue, Mansfield, were sent an email earlier this month that informed them they needed to leave the site for at least 10 months.

Company directors and workers have now formed a group with the aim of fighting the eviction notice and have claimed none of them intend to obey the order.

Management company Galaxy Real Estate acquired the site in September and said immediate work is required on the roof to address "significant safety issues".

Ashley Barnes said his worktop business was losing customers due to the uncertainty

Ashley Barnes, who runs Mansfield Worktops, said his business required complex and large machinery, which could cost tens of thousands of pounds to dismantle, move and rebuild.

He said: "There's just not enough time for 20 businesses to find new premises, sign a new lease and set back up without affecting your staff or your customers.

"The stress it's having on the staff, they're asking me every day, have we still got a job in two weeks? And I can't answer that unfortunately. Even if I outsource the fabrication, my staff have got no job because they're the fabricators."

Mr Barnes said customers had cancelled orders over fears they will not be fulfilled.

He called for the work to be done in stages to reduce disruption and believed nobody would leave by the end of the month.

"We're all just going to stay put and hope that the legalities behind it are going to help us and keep us where we are," he said.

Alec Whitworth said the small businesses at the centre struggled to afford legal advice

Alec Whitworth, from Botany Indoor Car Boot, said the email from Galaxy Real Estate was "vague and very short".

"We're small businesses, not all of us can pay the £500 for a commercial solicitor to even fight this," he added.

"So we're having to do our research on our own and hopefully find out where we stand."

Mansfield MP Steve Yemm said the short eviction notice served to business owners was not "good enough" and had written an open letter to the firm's chief executive requesting a meeting.

In a statement, Galaxy Real Estate said it "deeply regrets the disruption caused", but stressed the safety our its tenants "must remain our top priority".

It added: "The nature of the repairs involves scaffolding and extensive structural work, which presents a serious risk of falling debris. Specialist contractors have recommended that the site be vacated to ensure the safety of tenants and workers alike."