A takeaway owner says his profits have halved after a 'monstrosity' of a 5G mast was installed outside his business. Former football coach Ray Nicholson opened Nico Patties in Harrow, north west London, in summer 2020 - weeks before the mast was installed.
But the 54-year-old says takings at his eatery, which sells Caribbean patties, doughnuts and sweet treats, halved from £300 to £150 a day after the installation appeared. He says he now pulls 12-hour shifts and pumped in £14,000 of his own money meaning he has 'nothing left' to put in.
He said council bosses never warned him or asked what he thought- and claims he has never seen another phone mast in front of a shop anywhere in the borough. Ray, who has lived nearby since 1974, worries the Caribbean café could end up having to close its doors.
He even thought about shutting the shop on Harrow View but has vowed to keep going as running it has been a ‘great journey’ and he wants to create ‘something special’ for his loyal customers. To tempt in more customers he has bought a trellis and hedge which he plans to wrap around the ugly creation.
He says he has bought a parasol to put between the new hedge and the shop which can fit in an outdoor terrace with seating. He said: “I was selling patties in the traffic before it was there. When we first started we were flying.
“It went up in Summer 2020 just after we opened. I thought ‘I am going to have a lovely shop, everyone is going to see it.’ Now I have this monstrosity outside my shop. People said they were going to try and get it removed but it never has been.
“My rent has gone up- initially when I signed a contract for five years it was for £750 a month and then it increased by £100 even though that monstrosity has been put up in front of the shop. I phoned the landlord saying ‘what are you doing?’ but he said he had nothing to do with it.
“Eventually I got so frustrated I called EE and they gave me £250 for a new sign. It has affected my business and I have had no compensation at all.
“When I started two years ago we were taking around £300 per day and now we are taking around £150 a day. I am worried my business will have to close and I am worried about my health.
“I just don’t understand why the council could do that? When you try and phone the council you are on the line for hours.
“There is all that space on the pavement. They have got all that space and they have just stuck it in front of my shop?
“I am going to put a trellis and a hedge around it and put a new banner up. It has become a little social gathering spot for people after we are closed at 9pm because you can sit on and around it.
“My daughter said to me ‘get out of here, you don’t need to be here, go and get another shop.’ We have got another shop in Bushey but it has not opened yet.
“This is my area and has been for such a long time. I have lived here since 1974. The business has just been phenomenal and most days we are doing alright- but it has been a major, major problem.
“I don’t understand why they have done it, it is the worst planning I have ever seen. The masts are all around the borough but I have never seen one outside a shop.
“We are the only black shop around here. They have put it outside our shop.
No one came and warned us about it. I am paying £850 a month in rent but no one from the council ever came into my shop.
“It is quite frustrating and not what I signed up for. My mum just said ‘make it work your way. Make it something special’. That is what I have done.
“I wanted to create something special and have worked so hard, I put in £14,000 into the shop and have got no money left now. I am here for twelve hours a day.
"When they first came they said they would put it where the telephone box is, I still can’t understand why they would put it right outside a shop. Everyone was laughing at the beginning but it is not funny at all.
“It has affected everything I do but I am not going to let it dishearten me. The last two years have been a great journey despite this being quite disheartening. When people ask ‘are you open?’- that is really difficult.
“Everybody moans about it, even more than me. I am just used to it now.
"I have got a parasol and I am going to make it enclosed between the shop and the mast. I am just disappointed with the council. Compensation would be nice as I have lost money and business.
“Why should be treated in this way when I am just trying to enhance the area?”
SWNS approached Harrow Council for a comment.
