Crossrail is forcing us out of business and the compensation is tiny, say firms

Firms being forced out to make way for Crossrail denounced the compensation process as "appalling" today.

Companies in Dean Street, Soho, accused transport bosses of throwing them out without giving them sufficient cash to pay for the move.

More than 80 got only three months' notice to vacate premises by tomorrow so a ticket hall for the £16 billion project can be built for Tottenham Court Road. Demolition is due to start in the new year. Most of the shops, pubs, restaurants and law, media and PR firms have already left, with retailers holding discount sales. Many have leases rather than own the freehold of buildings, and want their relocation costs reimbursed.

Today campaigners claimed Crossrail was "playing hardball", offering a "fraction" of moving costs. Some firms are shutting permanently. Laura Carr, 27, manager of the Couch Bar, said: "It's the end. I've been selling off furniture."

Holly Hartley, 45, a co-owner of Short Films, said the estimated cost of moving was £32,000, adding: "Crossrail has offered us £1,000 but I'm not going to accept it." A Crossrail spokesman said: "All claims are dealt with under the terms of the National Compensation Code and many are ongoing." Landlords were offered 90 per cent of "assessed property value" and there is a helpline.

We have been given the worst Christmas ever'

Domenico Savaresa, 45
Owner, Spaccanapoli restaurant,
101 Dean St
Open: 17 years
Closing
Job losses: 24
"We are a very successful business but could not find anywhere suitable to move to in just three months. The employees are not going to find jobs now. I spent 17 years of my life working to build this place up and now I have nothing. I just have to worry about if and when I get any kind of compensation. It is devastating, but more for my staff."

Sami Pour, 50
Owner, Donelli shoe shop, 102 Dean St
Open: 30 years
Estimated cost of moving: £300,000
Job losses: potentially four
Mr Pour said he was expecting to lose "tens if not hundreds of thousands of pounds" as lawyers had advised him compensation offered by Crossrail would be "minimal". He said: "It is not easy to find suitable replacement premises. In the meantime we have to close and I am preparing to lose out [in takings while the shoe shop is closed]. It's like the reverse of winning the lottery."

Roddy Gye, 58
Owner, GHA Group (media technology), 1 Great Chapel St
Open: 24 years
Estimated cost of moving: £10,000- £12,000
Job losses: none
"All my staff have been working full-time on the move, which has taken weeks of management. We are a small business and have had to find new premises but have no clue what sort of compensation we are going to get. Our concern is the cost involved. It is extremely disruptive. We were not given formal notice until three months before D-day' — not a lot of time."

Laura Carr, 27
Manager, Couch bar
97-99 Dean St
Open: nine years
Closing
Job losses: 11
"We made a decision to close on Saturday. We have not been looking for a new venue, that's it — end of. The bar was quite successful and popular: Soho is quite insular — there's a big community feel — and so it is a shame it's going. I don't think anybody has got compensation yet. In some ways I understand why the development is happening, but I employed 10 staff. The last place I worked at was shut down too."