AFTER 12 years in business, a family-run store is facing the prospect of being forced to close.

The Premier News store, in Basing View, has been run by the Patel family for years, but, due to the regeneration of the area, the family has been told by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council they may have to vacate the premises in just four weeks.

If the enforced move goes ahead, it would lead to a loss of employment for Kishor Patel and his family, as well as the loss of thousands of pounds worth of stock.

Mr Patel said he was told the move from the current store is due to the site being demolished to make way for the new home of Eli Lilly.

Mr Patel said: “We had negotiated a new break lease with the council in January which said we would be relocated to a portable building near the AA building.

“Then in June the portable building was cancelled and we were told that we would be moved into Norden House, which won’t be ready until 2019.

“We are still in discussions with the council, but all we want is a store we can call home.”

Now a petition has been launched to help save the convenience store, which Mr Patel says is a vital asset to the community.

The store is run by Mr Patel, his wife and two sons, who live in Brighton Hill.

Mr Patel said while the borough council say it champions business, he believes there is no support to small local companies.

He added: “This whole thing was sprung on us.

“I understand that new business needs to be brought to the town, but not to the detriment of a small family business.

“We know our customers names and we have a real community and I think we add real value to the area.

“We just need to come to some sort of resolution with the council.”

The redevelopment of the site will see the new headquarters of Eli Lilly stay in Basingstoke, not re-locate elsewhere.

Cabinet member for property and development at the borough council, Councillor John Izett said: “The council appreciates that the Premier store at Loddon Parade provides a valuable and convenient service and we are continuing to work with Mr Patel to find alternative accommodation for his business.

“The redevelopment of the Loddon Parade site has been an important part of the Basing View regeneration project for some time and plans for the site moved forward in September 2017.

“After Mr Patel signed a new contract which warned him that the council would require ownership of the site with six months’ notice, a compensation payment was paid by the council for the disruption caused and we have been keeping him updated on the plans and supporting him in any way we can to re-locate his business.

“For the site to be redeveloped and to allow Lilly to move into its new headquarters within the required date, developers will need to access the site in September to start pre-construction work.

“We will continue to support Mr Patel to find an alternative location for his business.”

To sign the petition, which already has more than 200 people signed up, go to thepetitionsite.com and search for ‘Save our local shop’.