SNACK bar owners who have been serving passengers for 18 years, have launched a campaign to stop their cafe being demolished.
 
Hugh and Nadia McMahon, who run Bread and Buffers, next to Billericay station’s ticket office, in Radford Way, have been given until October to leave.
They are being ousted as part of a Government-funded £1.4million revamp set to transform the station.
Under the plans, Bread and Buffers will be knocked down to make way for a bigger ticket office.
The devastated owners have launched a petition calling on National Express, which leases Billericay station from Network Rail, to give them a new shop in the redeveloped station.
So far they have more than 1,000 signitures and the support of Basildon and Billericay MP John Baron.
Mrs McMahon, 51, of Stock Road, said: “We’ve been here for 18 years and we’ve only just renewed our lease for another five.
“National Express has a contract with us and they should provide us with a similar sized outlet in the new station.
“Of course it’s good to see progress and improvement, but it shouldn’t be at the cost of high value services to customers, like ours.
“There are ways of improving the station without demolishing our shop.”
National Express has said the revamped station will definitely have a refreshment outlet, but would not go into more detail.
It said the outlet would be put out to tender, and no priority would be given to Mr and Mrs McMahon.
Regular commuter David Hamill, 23, of Langham Crescent, Billericay, said: “I often pop into Bread and Buffers to get a snack, so it will be a real shame if it closes.
“It would be much better to keep a local trader in the station than getting a big chain in.”
MP John Baron said: “I am supportive of the McMahon’s cause and I will be presenting their petition to the Government in the hope we get a positive response.
“Bread and Buffers is very popular with local commuters and it’s only right it continues.
“These decisions are taken by others, but as their local MP, I am going to do what I can to ensure their voices and those of commuters are heard.”
Trevor Draper, head of Billericay’s chamber of commerce, said: “It’s great to see much-needed investment in the station, but it has to benefit everybody.
“I hope Bread and Buffers is given a comparable space in the new station when it reopens and the owners are compensated appropriately.”
Phil Turner, a councillor for Billericay, said: “It will be a real loss if Bread and Buffers has to close.
“National Express and Network Rail need to keep this facility and the council will be lobbying to that effect.”
Peter Meades, from National Express, said: “The station’s plans will include a retail unit. The plans are still being progressed. The overall aim is to provide a better facility for passengers.”

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