A Ramsgate hairdresser who had to shut his salon and move out of his home with his wife and three children last year due to a collapsed sewer pipe is finally reopening his business.
Marcello Marino, who has owned his salon and home in West Cliff Road for more than 30 years, said it all started with a sewage leak in September 2022 which caused disruption to his business on the ground floor.
In September last year Marcello was told the building was not safe and the shop would have to be closed. Two weeks later Marcello, his wife, two girls and baby son had to leave their home on direction from the water company.
Southern Water previously said the sewer pipe section was private and therefore Marcello’s responsibility even though the water firm covered the cost of repairs. But Marcello disputed ownership of the pipe section saying Southern Water’s lining contractor confirmed the section is not a private asset but ‘a shared pipe’ that was the water company’s responsibility. A recording of the conversation was shared with The Isle of Thanet News.
The family were eventually able to return to their flat, above the salon, in February but Marcello was still waiting for his business premises to be reinstated.
Now he will reopen the salon on May 1 at 8.30am but will hold a special event on April 29 from 5pm to thank all those who supported him. The event will also raise money for Pilgrims Hospices.
When the family first had to move out, Marcello said they had just two hours notice.
He said: “We initially had to rely on handouts from friends and local businesses to survive whilst we waited for compensation to be agreed.
“I cannot thank this community enough for their kindness and support.”
Marcello will also be donating 10% of his takings for the first two weeks of opening to the Pilgrims Hospices charity.
He said: “Pilgrims Hospice is a charity that is central to this area and I couldn’t think of a better way to give back to the local community as a big thank you than to raise much needed funds”.
Seabird bar and the Falstaff in Addington Street are sponsoring the food and drink for the reopening event and Margo in Margate will donate one of her favourite paintings for a raffle with proceeds of each ticket sold going to Pilgrim Hospices.
To book and appointment telephone 01843 592027
Marcello’s is based at 15a, West Cliff Road, Ramsgate
