October 17th 2024.
Debbie Monfries has been through a long and difficult battle with Southwark Council for the past 12 years. As the owner of Umana Yana restaurant in Herne Hill, south London, she has been fighting to have five 6ft telecom boxes removed from outside her establishment. These boxes have been causing major issues for Debbie, as they block the view of her restaurant and have significantly impacted her business.
Despite her numerous complaints to the council since 2012, Debbie has been told that the telecom boxes are here to stay. This news has been devastating for her, as she has seen a sharp decline in her restaurant's revenue since the installation of the boxes. In fact, she has even received support from famous rapper Central Cee, who has publicly backed her cause.
According to the council, government regulations allow telecom companies to install these boxes without seeking planning permission from the local authorities. This has left Debbie feeling frustrated and trapped in a situation that she cannot improve. She has now turned to her local MP, Helen Hayes, for help and even suffered a heart attack in 2020 due to the stress of the ongoing battle.
Debbie and her husband Junior have also had to deal with the emotional toll of the situation. They have received a lot of support from the local community, which has been a source of comfort for them. However, the heart attack that Debbie experienced in 2020 was a difficult and emotional time for her. She also expressed her anger at the fact that it took 12 years to reach a decision on the matter.
At the recent planning committee meeting, a council officer acknowledged that this was the worst case he had ever seen. However, when asked if the boxes would be removed, he stated that they had been installed lawfully and would not be taken down. This has left Debbie feeling helpless and without any options to improve the situation.
Debbie shared that she has been able to keep her restaurant running by selling food at markets, but this is not a sustainable solution for her. She is 64 years old and cannot continue to run around London just to pay the rent. She believes that she should be able to run her restaurant without being forced to take on extra work just to keep it afloat.
However, since her story gained attention on social media, Debbie has received an outpouring of support from locals and even rapper Central Cee, who donated £15,000 to her cause. He also appeared in a video with Debbie, where she taught him how to make authentic Guyanese food. She is grateful for the support and love from her customers, who appreciate her efforts to bring unique and delicious Guyanese food to the London market.
Debbie also expressed her disappointment with the outcome of the meeting at the council. Councillor Helen Dennis has been supportive of Debbie's campaign and has been trying to facilitate a resolution between the telecom companies and Debbie for several years. However, due to government regulations, the council's hands are tied, and they are unable to take any action.
Despite their efforts, the telecom companies have not been willing to cooperate and remove the boxes. The council has also explored different options, such as mediation and advertising Umana Yana on the boxes, but these have not been successful. Councillor Dennis has expressed sympathy for Debbie's situation and has put forward an Article 4 motion that would require telecom companies to seek planning permission before installing any structures in that area. However, until the government gives councils more power in these situations, Debbie and her restaurant will continue to suffer.
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