A FAMILY business close to a new shopping centre has shut following a large rent increase, with several other independents facing being 'forced out' by the council.

Last Monday Pirates Den hardware shop on The Broadway, Debden shut its doors for a final time after 12 years of trading.

Run by the Matthews, the family decided to focus its attention on second shop Stuarts after Epping Forest District Council asked for £10,000 more rent a year.

Owner Stuart Matthews said: "We've been down here as a family business for 27 years now.

"In January the council said rent was going up to £22-24,000, up from 14.

"We have a rent review every four years. It always goes up £1,000 to £2,000 tops and we moan about that, but this time it's extortionate.

"Their argument is they have a long list of people and if we don't like it we can hand out keys back, but they seem to be empty for a while."

Since the Langston Road shopping centre opened at the end of last year, the Broadway's shop owners have seen trade suffer.

World of Pets and Ice Events are down £2,000 a month compared to last year, their owners frustrated that the council's Economic Development head Councillor Anne Grigg's July 2016 promise to 'consider' rent abatements has not materialised.

Mr Matthew believes the council has a bias towards the Langston Road outlet.

He added: "We found out that some of the shops there got three years rent free. Its one thing after the other.

"They are shooting down at the little man and looking after the big corporate companies."

Along The Broadway Ice Events, World of Pets, Eye gee Opticians, Love Tag, K & P Family Butchers, P A Sparks & Sons Greengrocers and Tony's Hardware are all considering their future.

One likely victim is the Save the Children charity shop, which must bid goodbye to its volunteers after the council asked for £29,000 rather than £21,000 year.

Joyce Shelley, who has been helping out since 1992, said: "I think they want us out. They want everybody out so they can knock the whole thing down."

Her thoughts were echoed by Ice Events owner Debbie Cranfield.

She said: "They want the business to shut down so they can lease them out for £30,000.

"We are desperate and being forced out. We have no one to turn to."

An Epping Forest District Council spokesperson explained that rents from shops in the Broadway is used to pay for other public services and that it was in everyone in the district's interest for them to thrive, and that the Langston Road centre stopped shoppers going elsewhere.

They said: "In any high street some businesses will be doing better than others at any given time but demand for vacated units in the Broadway is very high.

"That commercial confidence is reflected in our development of the new Landmark building which will add more shops to let in the Broadway.

"The Council is playing its part by investing in the Broadway but shoppers ultimately decide the success of local retailers. Give local people the shops, restaurants and other services they want and they will come."