Shipping container takeaway owner facing eviction

A takeaway owner who built his business from nothing faces being evicted from his plot outside a Derbyshire railway station.

Ismail Rammo came to the UK as a Syrian refugee in 2018.

He runs his food business from a shipping container in front of Buxton railway station, having recently upgraded from a smaller trailer.

But the 40-year-old has told the BBC he has been informed he has to remove the container as soon as possible as it does not have planning permission.

Essie Grill owner Ismail Rammo, who serves a mix of Syrian cuisine and English classics, told the BBC the agent he pays rent to had informed him upgrading from a trailer to a larger shipping container would not be a problem.

However Mr Rammo has subsequently been told by the borough council the unit requires planning permission and needs to be removed as soon as possible.

"I try to always make people around me happy and I try always not to upset anybody," he said.

"I don't feel nice and I don't see any support. I've found myself a job to support my wife and three children and I want the business to continue".

A petition calling for Essie Grill to be saved has had hundreds of signatures.

Joe, a 20-year-old regular, said: "I'm gutted. Me and a lot of my friends come here quite often. This is the spot for food in Buxton - you only have to look at the reviews. There's no way he should be going".

High Peak Borough Council says it is now looking into the issue.

Godfrey Claff, the authority's executive councillor for planning, said, "The council has received a number of complaints about a food outlet at Buxton station.

"We are currently investigating whether there has been a breach of planning regulations and the matter has been taken up with Network Rail as the site owner."

A spokesperson for Northern Trains, which manages the station, said: "We have asked the trader to move the unit from Buxton station until the planning matter can be resolved.

"We are prepared to work with the trader and the council to find a solution."

SpaceandPeople, the agency Mr Rammo pays his rent to, said: "We don't have anything to add as we are not a direct party to the current discussions.

"We understand that Northern Rail and the local council are looking to resolve the matter with Mr Rammo and we will assist all parties where appropriate."

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