TWO Winchester shops staring down the barrel of eviction have been handed a “stay of execution” by the city council.

Sunflower Emporium and Sukee Market had previously been told they had until the end of February to pack up and leave Kings Walk amid Winchester City Council’s long-term plan to revamp the area and transform it into an ‘arts and creative hub’.

However, they’ve since been granted a three-month extension which will see them stay put until mid-May, which civic chiefs say allows the owners more time to find alternative premises.

READ MORE HERE: Kings Walk shop evictions raised at city council meeting

But despite the council’s insistence that both businesses will still be moved on come May, Hai Dong Su, the owner of Sukee Market, has said he remains hopeful he’ll be able to hang on to the unit which he’s been trading from for over 10 years.

He said: “We’ve been given a three-month extension from the council and we’re waiting to here on a final decision. If we must go, then it gives us extra time to find somewhere else, but of course, I still want to stay.

“We are set up here, we love the area, and we have a loyal base of local customers who know where we are and keep coming back. The whole community, including the other shops in Kings Walk, have all been really supportive. They want us to stay, but we will have to wait and see.”

Former Winchester City Council election candidate Andy Lai has previously extensively campaigned for more support for both shops. He described the extension as a “stay of execution and not a reprieve”.

He said: “Mr Su has just contacted me to thank me and all his other local supporters for our recent help. Winchester City Council has confirmed that they will extend the lease of his shop by three months and not evict him as they proposed. However, this is only a stay of execution and not a reprieve.

SEE ALSO: Public consultation on future of Bar End Depot site

“Mr Su has spent the last three months looking for other premises, but they have all been either too expensive or the location has been unsuitable for his business. I have suggested that Mr Su should adapt his shop to fit in with the Council’s plans for Kings Walk becoming an artistic and cultural hub by hosting a series of Chinese cultural talks, displaying art from the Art College and local community which would be free for the artists. In addition, the shop would host Chinese cooking demonstrations and other cultural events as well continuing to supply Chinese provisions.

“These proposals are to enable him to keep trading in Kings Walk in the new environment which is the desire of his heart.”

Barbara Cooper, the owner of Sunflower Emporium, said she’s looked at a few vacant units in Winchester city centre, but they’re either too small or nearly double the price of rent.

She said: “We were originally given an extension until the end of March to move out, but I got an email through around 10 days ago to say it had been pushed back until May.

“But either way, I’ve told them I’m not leaving, they’ll have to take me to court to get me out. I’ve asked people at the council whether they can tell me why my shop isn’t classed as a creative business, and if it isn’t, what I can do to change, but I haven’t had a straight answer. Every customer who comes in says they can’t understand how we are any different to the other businesses which have been allowed to stay.

“At the minute, we can afford to run on a very small profit margin because this shop isn’t about the money, it never has been. But all that would have to change if we were to move, we’d be forced to put our prices up, and while our customers say they understand that, it isn’t something I want to do.”

A city council spokesperson said: “Winchester City Council contacted the tenants to let them know that we appreciate the difficulty they are facing, so their lease has been extended and the situation will be reviewed in three months – which would take us to mid-May. We are continuing to support them where possible to find alternative premises.”

 

Message from the editor

Thank you for reading this story. We really appreciate your support.

Please help us to continue bringing you all the trusted news by sharing this story or by following our Facebook page.

Kimberley Barber