A POPULAR convenience shop could close because its landlord wants to double its rent. Cranford Store has battled to survive since the arrival of Tesco in the area and its owners say they will struggle to survive in the face of East Hampshire District Council's demands. Narendra and Bhagavati Patel have held the lease at Cranford Store in Borough Grove, off Cranford Road, for 10 years and rent negotiations are under way with their landlords. The council wants to increase the current rent of £5,000 a year. Mrs Patel said: "They want a 100 per cent rise, which we cannot afford. My business hasn't increased 100 per cent. "For the last 10 years we have worked work very hard and put everything into the property and increased its value. "They think that because the property price has increased they should increase the rent. But they didn't put a penny into the property. Mrs Patel said previous tenants had done little to maintain the property and putting it right had come at the cost of her health. "When I took over the business, the property was in a very poor condition. The previous tenant did not clean or maintain it," said Mrs Patel. Now the landlords are hammering me to maintain the property. They think I am a soft person, so they are hammering me to do every single thing. "I cannot run the business. I would lose my little business because of their increase. The property didn't have central heating so I put it in myself. The landlords refused to do it. The rent increase is not the first obstacle the family has overcome to make a success out of the business. Mrs Patel, 51, who works around 14 hours a day at the shop, said: "I came to this property in 1997. At that time my solicitor asked if any businesses were coming near the shop, but a year later Tesco came. It had a big effect on my business." Customers have also lent their support. In a letter to the district council, John Lance, of The Causeway, said: "Since Mrs Patel and family took over the business, vast improvements have been made to the premises and the living accommodation above. "These improvements have been carried out ... at Mrs Patel's expense. The service the business and Mrs Patel provide is excellent. "These exorbitant proposed increases are surely not the way to reward the dedication Mrs Patel and family have demonstrated over many years working in Petersfield. I strongly request that you give them a fair hearing and appraisal."
