A convenience store retailer is holding out against bulldozers set to demolish his store.
Jaswant Singh, who has run Singh Licensed Grocer in Edinburgh for the past 21 years, has been told he must move to make way for a multi-million pound regeneration project in the Craigmillar area. But Jaswant has refused compensation from the local council, which is to issue a compulsory purchase order on the store.
Surrounding flats and shops have been boarded up or demolished over the past two years in one of the city's most deprived areas. The council plans to build 2,200 homes, a high street and four schools in their place.
However, Jaswant said the proposed five-figure sum did not compensate him for investment in his business and drop in sales. He said: "Their offer is based on the past three years' accounts but our business is down due to the demolition."
Wife Shindo added: "I don't know how long we can go on like this."
A council spokesman said the couple had been offered the market value for their store and help to find alternative premises.
Jaswant Singh, who has run Singh Licensed Grocer in Edinburgh for the past 21 years, has been told he must move to make way for a multi-million pound regeneration project in the Craigmillar area. But Jaswant has refused compensation from the local council, which is to issue a compulsory purchase order on the store.
Surrounding flats and shops have been boarded up or demolished over the past two years in one of the city's most deprived areas. The council plans to build 2,200 homes, a high street and four schools in their place.
However, Jaswant said the proposed five-figure sum did not compensate him for investment in his business and drop in sales. He said: "Their offer is based on the past three years' accounts but our business is down due to the demolition."
Wife Shindo added: "I don't know how long we can go on like this."
A council spokesman said the couple had been offered the market value for their store and help to find alternative premises.
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