'I've been here 40 years and have nowhere to go'
BBCBusiness owners who rent units at an industrial estate have told of their shock at being ordered to vacate their premises within weeks.
Traders on the Golden Triangle Industrial Estate in Widnes, Halton - some who have been there for decades - said moving in such a short space of time was "unrealistic" and would put them out of business.
MP for Widnes and Halewood Derek Twigg said he had called on Halton Borough Council to review the situation "as a matter of urgency in order that these businesses have the support they need".
Halton Borough Council said it will work with the businesses to agree a timetable while the BBC understands the authority is planning to build housing on the site.
Rowland Neill, 69, who runs MOT centre RGN and has been on the estate for over 40 years said if the site closes his business would have to shut.
"I can't go anywhere because I can't start an MOT station up a week later," Neill said.
"It takes nine to 12 months to get it authorised, even if I could find somewhere.
"And then the cost would be tremendous.
"So if this site were to close down it would put me out of business."
The businesses said they received a letter from a company acting on behalf of Halton Borough Council telling them they needed to vacate their premises by 31 March.
'Unrealistic'
"We understand that they should give us a minimum six months notice which they haven't," Chris Shwenn owner of CS Motors said.
"They also haven't offered any help with relocating or moving or anything like that," the 41-year-old claimed who said he would be forced to shut down if he cant relocate.
"Being in the motor trade there's not a lot of premises available for us, some people won't take us on, so finding somewhere to go is the key to continuing the business."
His concerns are echoed by Gary Hallett of Lavis Engineering, whose family has run the business at the site for three generations.
The 57-year-old said the letter had come as a "massive shock" and no alternative sites had been mentioned.
"When you look at what we've built up, to suddenly say you've got to move out in basically a month, it's just unrealistic," he said.
"To suddenly just try and upsticks and move out all the machinery and stock - it's a big task."
In a statement MP for Widnes and Halewood Derek Twigg said: "I fully recognise the concerns from businesses based on the estate, and I understand that this matter is causing them great uncertainty.
"I have contacted Halton Borough Council to ask that they review the situation as a matter of urgency in order that these businesses have the support they need.
"If businesses are expected to relocate, clearly they need to be afforded time to do this and so I hope that the council will work proactively with all those affected to allow them to plan ahead.
"I will continue to press the local authority to keep these businesses at the forefront of any decision making around this issue."
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