'If we lose this place, we lose everything'

Business owners fear for the future despite 'small victory' of extended deadline to move off industrial estate

- WORDS BY JAMIE GREER PICTURES BY COLIN LANE

Martin and Shelley Freeman at their cafe on the Golden Triangle Industrial Estate, Widnes

A MARRIED couple and other business owners are still fearing for their future after being given a new deadline to move out.

Traders on the Golden Triangle Industrial Estate in Widnes say they were told at the start of March that they have to pack up and go by March 31 after the estate was bought by Halton Borough Council.

The businesses were informed in a letter sent to them by solicitors acting on behalf of the council.

The council, along with developer Cityheart, submitted plans for 240 new homes on the estate in September.

At the start of last month, business owners said they were unaware that they would have to make way for the development so soon and warned they faced the imminent collapse of their companies if the plans were not delayed and financial support put in place.

Now, the business owners have been granted a relief of sorts, with a solicitors letter telling them the deadline had been extended to September 30.

But many feel this has merely kicked the can down the road, with financial support from the council not forthcoming.