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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Protest at Eames 'shops sell-off' | Protest at Eames 'shops sell-off' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| About 60 people have been protesting in east Belfast over plans to sell off shops partly owned by Church of Ireland Primate Archbishop Robin Eames. | About 60 people have been protesting in east Belfast over plans to sell off shops partly owned by Church of Ireland Primate Archbishop Robin Eames. |
| Local business people claim they cannot afford to bid for the properties in Ballyhackamore. | Local business people claim they cannot afford to bid for the properties in Ballyhackamore. |
| They fear a new owner could close them down and rip the commercial heart out of the local community. | They fear a new owner could close them down and rip the commercial heart out of the local community. |
| Jason Shankey, who owns a barbers shop, said they were hoping to have talks with Archbishop Eames in the New Year. | Jason Shankey, who owns a barbers shop, said they were hoping to have talks with Archbishop Eames in the New Year. |
| "He (Lord Eames), like anyone else, has the opportunity to sell his properties at whatever price he wants to," he said. | "He (Lord Eames), like anyone else, has the opportunity to sell his properties at whatever price he wants to," he said. |
| "But the problem for us is that we were not consulted about the sale, and five of the seven shops here are actually near the end of their leases. | "But the problem for us is that we were not consulted about the sale, and five of the seven shops here are actually near the end of their leases. |
| "Unfortunately, the way the bidding is going, it is really only a property developer who can afford the property at the level of offers at the moment." | "Unfortunately, the way the bidding is going, it is really only a property developer who can afford the property at the level of offers at the moment." |
| The agent said the tenants had been consulted about the sale. | |
| Archbishop Robin Eames has been asked to intervene | Archbishop Robin Eames has been asked to intervene |
| Archbishop Eames, 69, who is the head of the Church of Ireland and Archbishop of Armagh, has said he will step down on 31 December. | Archbishop Eames, 69, who is the head of the Church of Ireland and Archbishop of Armagh, has said he will step down on 31 December. |
| The cluster of shops first went on the market for £1.4m. | The cluster of shops first went on the market for £1.4m. |
| Frazer Kidd, the estate agents looking after the sale, said that any future purchaser would have to honour the existing leases. | Frazer Kidd, the estate agents looking after the sale, said that any future purchaser would have to honour the existing leases. |
| The tenants point out that this guarantees their survival only as far as October next year. | The tenants point out that this guarantees their survival only as far as October next year. |