Small businesses that rent railway arches which are soon to be sold off have written to Transport Minister Jo Johnson setting out their demands for the future of the Network Rail properties.
Many of the small firms occupying space under the railway viaducts have had to give up arches because of rents shooting up as much as 350 per cent in some cases.
It has left some arches remaining empty for years, or even being used for illegal raves in Bethnal Green and occupied by squatters.
The Guardians of the Arches campaign group backed by the East End Trades Guild and the New Economics Foundation has set out 13 proposals to make sure the properties are “managed fairly, transparently and with tenant involvement”.
They want the grand sale to be put on ‘hold’ to allow other bidders like local authorities to buy some of them—rather than all 4,455 around the country sold off in one lump.
The campaigners are calling for an audit to make sure rents are set “fairly and transparently”, never more than 80 per cent of an equivalent conventional commercial space and no increase above 20pc over three years.
A not-for-profit community organisation, meanwhile, is already converting one empty arch in Malcolm Place, under the Liverpool Street main-line through Bethnal Green, into a student centre on a short term lease.
“This arch has been used for illegal raves and by squatters,” work coordinator Andrew Higgins tells tomorrow’s East London Advertiser.
“We want to create a café, a bar and a community work space, so students can come in and set up base here.
“This area has a lot of student housing and there’s a hotel nearby.
“But these empty arches attract squatters and fly-tippers dumping rubbish as well as illegal raves.”
The Guardians group met the rail minister on July 18, when the government agreed to consider the group’s alternative proposals, including some arches being sold separately to other buyers.
Hackney Council, for example, is interested in taking over some arches on the Chingford and Enfield lines through London Fields and Hackney Downs. Mayor Phil Glanville wrote to Transport Secretary Chris Grayling with interest in buying them.
But Network Rail wants to sell all 4,455 arches throughout the country as one commercial business on a 150-year lease, thought to be valued at £1.5bn.
The campaigners point to research by the New Economics Foundation showing businesses based in railway arches contribute £725m a year to the UK economy.
Yet the businesses are being slapped with huge rent increases that they can’t afford.
The largest rise the campaign has uncovered is a demand for 345pc more, sent to a 93-year-old mechanic who has been running a garage under an arch in Clapham for the last 60 years. The man received a letter to raise his rent from £33,000 a year to £147,000.
An open letter with 8,000 signatures has been sent to Transport Secretary Chris Grayling asking him to pause the sale and meet tenants.
Four bidders remain on the shortlist to buy the entire stock of arches in the sale that is set to be completed by the end of the year.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here