A small garage in a railway arch in Bermondsey is at the centre of a community-backed fight against eviction. Raj Patel, who has run General Autos at 171 Abbey Street for 18 years, has received an eviction notice from his landlord, The Arch Company. The garage, which is one of the last remaining car repair services in the area, is seen by residents as a “beacon of resilience against the tide of gentrification.”
Patel’s nine-year lease was not renewed at the end of December, and he was offered a new lease with a significant rent increase and a break clause. At the time, Patel was battling Stage 3 cancer and says he was unable to negotiate the new terms, which he believed would make his business unsustainable.
Despite his lease expiring, Patel claims he continued to be invoiced under the old terms until May, when he received a notice to vacate by the end of June. Acting on legal advice, he is remaining at the premises while his lawyer investigates a potential challenge to the notice.
His son, Vijay, who has worked at the garage since 2007, highlights how the area’s motor trade has been pushed out in favour of bars and flats. He notes that without General Autos, locals with “normal cars” will have to travel into the congestion zone for repairs.
A petition to save the garage has garnered 335 signatures, with supporters describing the business as a “cornerstone of the local community.” A spokesperson for The Arch Company stated that they are in “continuing discussions” with General Autos to find an agreement.
Source: Southwark News