Firm denies 'bully boy tactics' claim over Chesterfield garage site

Concerns have been raised over the loss of a garage site in Chesterfield.

By Michael Broomhead

Published 16th Mar 2020, 17:00 BST

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Nearly 50 garages at Catherine Street, Brampton, will be demolished after Chesterfield SSL Ltd was given planning permission to transform the land into assisted living accommodation.

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People who used the garages were given three days earlier this month to collect their belongings.

Shayne McCarron, Ken Ashton, Margaret Ashton, Veronica Morris and Stephen Foster are angry about losing the garage site at Catherine Street, Chesterfield. Photo: Rachel Atkins.

Shayne McCarron, Ken Ashton, Margaret Ashton, Veronica Morris and Stephen Foster are angry about losing the garage site at Catherine Street, Chesterfield. Photo: Rachel Atkins.

Veronica Morris, who owned a garage at the site, accused contractors appointed by Chesterfield SSL of acting ‘illegally’ and ‘using bully boy tactics’.

She said: “They broke into all the garages and put on new locks without giving any of the garage owners a key to access their own property.”

Mrs Morris said she eventually managed to access her garage but was ‘not happy at all with the way the situation has been handled’.

Dan Gazzard, a director at Chesterfield SSL, said: “We’ve followed the law, we’ve provided people with notice and we’ve acted fairly in giving people access to and from the site.

“We completely deny the ‘bully boy’ accusations.

“We understand people are upset about losing the garages – but the assisted living accommodation will be positive for the area.”

Mrs Morris also raised questions about refunds.

She said: “We installed our garage at the site many years ago and have paid annual ground rent to Chesterfield Borough Council.

“We’ve paid this up until October this year but now of course we no longer have access to the garages.

“A lot of other people are in the same situation and we want to know who owes us our money."

Chesterfield SSL purchased the garage site from the council.

Councillor Chris Ludlow, cabinet member for housing, said: “When the council sold the garage site to the developer, it was in good faith that they would uphold the commitments to the tenants, communicate and provide the required level of notice.

“However, this has unfortunately not happened.

“Therefore, the council has stepped in and will reimburse the tenants for any lease payments relating to a period after January 31 as a discretionary ‘goodwill’ payment.”

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