27th March 2022
The Flavours takeaway in Bradford is on the brink of closure due to the energy crisis, according to its owner. Mohammed Awais, who has run the takeaway on Girlington Road for 12 years.
He usually pays £260 for gas and £95 for electricity per month. With his current contract expiring at the end of May, he sought estimates for his likely energy costs from June and was shocked by the results.
The best rate he could find showed the price of the former going up by 400 per cent (£1,068), and, as for the shop’s electricity, that grew by 300 per cent (£305).
Mr Awais says he is going to increase prices when his new energy contract begins but fears a lack of competitiveness will force him into getting a job elsewhere.
He adds that “businesses are sleepwalking into a death-trap” over these next few months.
“People are talking about the 54 per cent rise for households but nobody talks about businesses,” Mr Awais said.
“There will be a lot of businesses closing down in the next couple of years.
Bradford West Labour MP Naz Shah tweeted: “Businesses are on the brink of collapse and this government is sitting idly by.”