A Mearns landlord has taken drastic action to try to close down an animal feed supplies business by dumping tonnes of earth and gravel at the doors to the premises.
Business owners Dave and Sylvia Ravenshear run D and S Pet Supplies on the old mart site in Laurencekirk.
They were shocked to arrive for opening at the weekend to find landlord Robert Fyfe had been there before them to pile the earth across the customer entrance.
The earth was also piled high at the supply entry at the rear of the premises.
The couple managed to clear a path for customers but had to call in a digger to clear the warehouse door in order to get fresh supplies in.
The police were called to inspect the damage but were unwilling to intervene in what they said was a civil matter.
The couple say the disruption has cost them hundreds of pounds in lost business, with customers simply driving off again when they saw the shop was inaccessible.
They are in the process of securing alternative premises as they intend to sell the business and say they have a new buyer desperate to take over.
An unrepentant Mr Fyfe claims they owe him a month’s rent and wants them evicted immediately.
Despite having previously received permission and substantial farm diversification funding for change of use of the old agricultural buildings on the former mart site to enable leasing for commercial purposes he makes no secret of the fact he wants the Ravenshear warehouse for agricultural storage.
”My position is that I am going to seek change of use permission so that I can return the building to agricultural use,” Mr Fyfe said. ”I am 70 years old. I don’t need hassle. I have no problem with any of my other tenants.”
All the businesses operate on a month-to-month basis, as he has refused to offer long-term leases or contracts.
The rent for the Ravenshears is £700 a month, payable in arrears.
For May, they say, their bill should be around £1,000, to include their share of the electricity, which is calculated by Mr Fyfe.
However, he has added £1,000 plus VAT, he says, as a penalty for not vacating the premises. Although he has continued to collect the rent since, he gave them notice to quit in February.
He said he has no intention of clearing the earth until he receives that money.
The Ravenshears have operated on the old mart site for eight years but their relationship with Mr Fyfe soured last autumn when they first tried to sell the business. They had a buyer but Mr Fyfe refused to accept him as a tenant.
He admitted: ”I didn’t like the guy. I’d had dealings with him before. I don’t have to accept any tenant.”
The Ravenshears say they have no other option but to try to carry on operating as best they can until the matter is resolved by their lawyers.
”This is an absolute nightmare,” said Mr Ravenshear. ”The interruption to the business has been enormous. This is just blackmail we are being held to ransom. It’s soul-destroying but it seems there is nothing we can do but carry on in the meantime.”