AN INDEPENDENT café in Witham railway station closed last week after a dispute over rent charges, leaving five people redundant.
Witham resident Sharon Chamberlain, has managed the Bean and Gone Café on platform two of the station for three-and-a-half years.
Earlier this year Abellio Greater Anglia announced that they would be reorganising facilities at their stations and increasing rates for businesses operating in stations by up to 15 per cent.
Sharon closed the café early last week on March 31 amid these rent concerns and is the most recent small business owner to close their doors as a result of these rent changes.
"It's a crying shame to not support small family run businesses," said Sharon, 53.
"There is a lot of support for us, but I'm afraid the support I needed was from Abellio Greater Anglia. I understand that Loco café have been asked to make an offer on both premises, so this is now out of my hands.
"I can't leave my house without somebody asking me what has happened. I feel so bad for my customers – a lot of them are keeping in touch and asking if I'm going to open again, but I can't see that happening", she said.
"I miss the café in more ways than anyone will ever know.
"I owned the cafe for three-and-a-half years and it's been an independent cafe for as long as I can remember.
"For at least 40 years I used to go in there when I got my first job in Chelmsford aged 15 and I'm 53 now, I took it from Mr and Mrs Beaton, they are pensioners now and they also live locally. They are very saddened at the closure of Bean and Gone too."
In a Facebook group dedicated to the outlet, Sharon voiced her disappointment with Greater Anglia and Abellio.
"I am saddened to say that as of the 31st of March, I will be closing my café for good," she wrote.
"This is because of the rent increase that Greater Anglia and Abellio have insisted I pay."
"They seem to think that £20,000 a year is not enough rent - they are asking for an extra 15 per cent of my total profits at the end of the year."
An Abellio Greater Anglia spokesman said: "The former tenant of the 'Bean & Gone' outlet at Witham station decided not to re-tender for the premises lease and has terminated the tenancy at the end of the contract."
"We are now going through the tendering process to select a new tenant, who will be confirmed in due course."
"In this instance it was entirely the decision of the tenant at Bean and Gone to vacate the premises when the contract ended."
The news comes soon after Maldon MP John Whittingdale voiced a series of complaints from commuters and small businesses in February in a letter to Greater Anglia boss Adam Golton.
The café was a popular independent business for commuters.
Scott Wilson, from Rettendon, said the problem is county-wide. He said: "I'm quite irritated with Greater Anglia's recent attitude towards small businesses; particularly as the company themselves make over £250 million a year.
"I reported the problem when newsagents started disappearing in Wickford station – now it's happening with cafes."
Angela Bryan, a Witham commuter, said of the closure on Twitter: "It's a disgrace, and is completely destroying someone's business. The previous owner managed to get legal advice and stay open."
The Witham café was open seven days a week and sold coffee, fresh sandwiches and homemade pastries.
Ruud Haket, managing director for Abellio Greater Anglia, said: "We are committed to improving the station retailing facilities for our customers.
"As well as aiming to increase customer satisfaction with stations and a better framework for tenants, the development of our plans should support the local economy, providing opportunities for local businesses."
