Coleraine businessman Trevor Higgins is considering his future after his shop in The Diamond Centre was demolished. Last week contractors acting for the shopping centre’s landlords CUSP (aka Bishopsgate Shopping Centres)  smashed their way into Hair Tiffany’s to make way for a multinational.

 Federation of Small Businesses member Trevor Higgins had leased Unit B in the centre since it opened five years ago and had run a successful hairdressing salon.

 Trevor said: “The landlords approached me in February about buying me out and I entered into negotiations with them. However those negotiations had dried up and no final figure or date had been agreed. I was then about to begin the process of putting the unit up for let when I got a letter to say the shop was going to be demolished in 24 hours’ time.”

 “I thought it was a joke - as you can imagine, but the next day my wife went to check on the shop and it was just a pile of rubble. Half the fixtures were destroyed, the other half were in a store, but were damaged beyond use.”

“I just can’t believe what has happened. It feels like bully boy tactics on a small business.”

 “When the Diamond Centre opened five years ago there were eight small businesses with premises but they have all given way to chain stores and mine was the last independent small business left and this is how you’re treated.”

Marlene Marcus FSB North East Branch Chairman said:

“This is another example of small indigenous businesses being squeezed out by the big boys. We have to support our local businesses and stop our town centres becoming dominated by high street chains. Small independent retailers make a unique and irreplaceable contribution to the character of our high streets. They are also vital to economies throughout the country as money spent locally is then recycled in other local services.”

Ends.

Notes for Editors:

• Trevor Higgins has not yet begun legal proceedings about the damage to his shop. The police have been informed.
• Photo caption: Trevor Higgins standing in the rubble of his shop.

 For further information contact Anne Dawson on 07795 562399.