Rotherham Council pushing ahead with town centre chippy purchase

Cabinet members have voted to push on with an order to force Master Fry to move from the former shopping arcade.

Cllr Denise Lelliott, cabinet member for jobs and the economy, said: “This is part of Forge Island. We need this property vacant so we can plough on with our development.

“We have offered alternative premises and we are still in negotiations. Hopefully, we can resolve this before we get to that CPO process. This just gives us the tools in the box.”

Master Fry is the last business still operating in the precinct, which links Corporation Street with the future cinema site of Forge Island.

Halil Kaya, who has run the chippy for five years, has refused to budge — calling RMBC’s valuation of his business too low and “silly”.

Council leader Cllr Chris Read said: “We have now taken possession of all the other leases. This is the last one that we need to be resolved before we can make further progress on Forge Island. 

“This isn’t about putting a business out of business. It’s about relocation and trying to agree on what’s the appropriate level of recompense. That’s where the challenge is at the moment.”