Crowdfunder launched to save Herne Hill Caribbean Roti Shop blighted by telecommunications equipment

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A crowdfunding campaign has been set up to save Umana Yama, a small Guyanese restaurant in Herne Hill, after the restaurant has been hidden from view by a mass of telecommunication boxes directly outside the shop front.

Sophie Mason, who is organising the fundraiser, said:

We need your help getting the mass of telecommunication equipment outside UMANA YANA in Herne Hill moved as it is destroying the best Caribbean roti shop in southeast London.

Umana Yama is a south London gem specialising in Guyanese foods, with goat curries, chicken stews and many different patties on the menu. It sits at 294 South Croxted Road in Herne Hill.

Unfortunately, the shop is being ruined by telecommunication boxes that have been placed right outside. The equipment obscures the view of the takeaway – you simply cannot see the shop from the road. Umana Yana has many loyal local customers but it also relies heavily on passing customers and these boxes hide the shop front.

Owner Debbie Monfries needs our support to legally take the telecommunication companies to court and get the boxes moved. The shop has been an important part of the Herne Hill community for nearly 13 years.

This wonderful business is being destroyed by telecoms operators who are refusing to move these boxes to a more suitable location. Debbie’s revenue has gone down massively. If these boxes don’t go, Umana Yana will be forced to close.

The aim of this crowdfunder is to raise money to legally challenge these companies. We have already obtained legal advice and our lawyers have advised us that it will cost up to £50,000 to take these telecoms operators to court. We really need your donations, no matter how small or big.

These five large boxes are electronic communications apparatus installed by major telecoms operators. Unfortunately, these companies do not need planning permission to install telephone boxes so they appeared with no proper consultation or discussion with Debbie.

The boxes could be moved to a more suitable site. However, despite Umana Yana asking for the boxes to be moved, the companies have provided no evidence that they have looked at other suitable locations.

We need your support to cover the cost of the legal fees needed to challenge these companies in court.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Find Umana Yana on Facebook and Instagram