The council refused to remove the 6ft telecommunications box from the front of the restaurant | UK News

A gran who has faced a 12-year battle to have five 6ft telecommunications boxes removed from outside his restaurant has said they are here to stay.

Debbie Monfries, 64, said the boxes were damaging trade as customers could not see her Umana Yana restaurant in Herne Hill, south London.

He has been complaining to Southwark Council since 2012 and even got support from Central rapper Cee.

The council said government rules meant telcos could install boxes without permission from the council.

Debbie has now complained to local MP Helen Hayes about the issue and says she will have a heart attack in 2020.

He said: “Before the box was put in, our annual income was between £70,000 and £80,000. After we put it in there, it dropped to £30,000.

‘It was almost immediate. There is a clear link.

‘We never recovered from that. It’s been stressful.’

He recalled suffering a heart attack in 2020 and said: ‘It was really hard. It’s emotional to think about.’

Restaurant owners are also angry that a decision on the matter took 12 years.

At a planning committee meeting held on October 8, council officials said it was the ‘worst case’ they had ever seen.

But when asked if the council would remove it, he said ‘no’ and said it had been installed legally.

Debbie said: ‘They were able to give me some options – maybe help me move. But now, there is no choice.

‘It’s too expensive to move. Too expensive to do anything. So I feel like I’m stuck in a situation that is never going to get better.

‘I can only go on because I have brought food to the market to sell.

‘But I’m 64. I can’t keep walking around London to pay the rent. It makes my life more difficult.

‘I should be able to open a restaurant without being forced to do this.’

Since her story came out on social media though Debbie has received a lot of support from local residents as well as Central Cee who have donated £15,000 to her.

He also appeared with Debbie in a new video shoot and showed her teaching him how to make Guyanese food.

Debbie also thanked local residents and said: ‘Customers who know about me support and love the restaurant.

‘I was born in Guyana and I cook authentic Guyanese food. When I started, I filled a gap in the London market.

‘I just hope I can keep doing it.’

Councilor Helen Dennis, said of the case: ‘We have supported Umana Yana’s campaign – trying to facilitate a resolution with the telecommunications company for many years by removing the box.

According to government rules, telecom companies can install these boxes without permission from the council.

‘Since trying to facilitate all parties, we have always been clear that the box was installed legally and we join others in asking the council to be given the power to act in this situation.

‘Various routes have been explored over the years including looking for meditators and advertising Umana Yana in boxes with the permission of telecommunication companies.

‘We have sympathy for the owner of Umana Yana, that’s why we filed an Article 4 motion.

‘This requires the telecommunications company to apply for planning permission to install boxes, masts and similar structures at this location, including replacements.’

Contact the news team by emailing webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check out our news page.

MORE: Picky eater? Oddbox launches ‘Pick Your Own’ delivery box to save customizable vegetables

MORE: I knew something was wrong with Mom when she changed the stew recipe

MORE: Pubs face early closure because people moving next door don’t like to laugh

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.