Businesses in a high-rise industrial centre say a council decision to close their building “could cancel Christmas” after they were forced out on one of their busiest weekends of the year. New England House in New England Street, Brighton , is home to nearly 100 businesses and is a creative hub for some stores preparing for the busy Christmas period ahead. But workers were forced out of their offices at short notice after Brighton and Hove City Council closed the building due to “serious fire safety issues”.
Now, business owners have vented their frustrations that they are losing thousands of pounds worth of trade over the course of three days after only being told about the closure at 7pm on Friday. New England House (Image: The Argus) Alice Rivers-Cripps, founder of jewellery company Posh Totty Designs, said: “This could cancel Christmas. If I’m not open by Tuesday I’m absolutely screwed – my business has a team of 50 people and it’s the busiest time of the year.
“This weekend we should have been full all weekend. We are talking about thousands of orders where we will be letting down our customers and our own reputation.” Zenzie Tinker, who runs her own textile conservation company, added: “Every single day between now and the end of the year counts and we can’t deliver if we can’t go to work.
” An email sent to businesses in New England House said the building had been closed with immediate effect due to “serious fire safety issues”. Bright.
