Evicted businesses and clubs given extra time

Businesses and clubs have been told they can keep using a building for another three months - days after being served eviction notices.

Sub-tenants of Ignite Studios, the main tenant of Rock Health on Victoria Avenue, St Sampson, Guernsey, had been given notice requiring them to leave the facility by 9 January.

Neil and Faye Lomax, the site's prospective new owners, confirmed they had launched a "community bridge" support package which would allow those using the building to stay rent free until 31 March.

Mr Lomax said they did not want the building's next chapter to begin with "local businesses being left in the cold through no fault of their own".

"By providing this three-month rent-free period, we are giving these clubs time to find permanent new homes on their own terms," Mr Lomax said.

"Furthermore, we are committed to being flexible - if our construction schedule allows for a longer transition period past March, we will extend that stay to ensure every club successfully finds a new home."

One of the tenants, Island Gymnastics, told members it would not be taking up the offer of staying for another three months.

"If we took up the offer to extend our lease at Rock Health, we would be in the same difficult situation in just three months time and no guarantee of another venue to move to," it said on social media.

"We are, therefore, continuing with our vacation of the building as planned."

It said the team was "lucky enough to have secured a great venue to keep classes running in a well established building, with people who have shown kindness and support to our club in this challenging time", adding: "We cannot wait to announce our plans with you all."

The Lomaxes said they wanted to purchase the site as part of a multimillion-pound investment to transform it into a "premier wellness and community destination".

Plans for the site included turning part of the building into what has been described as a "multi-sport arena" that could also host live events.

The husband and wife duo said they hoped to complete the purchase by 20 January before starting work on the facility in the spring.

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