A hairdresser forced to close his salon for six months because of a collapsed sewage system is over the moon to now be back open.
Marcello Marino and his family, who live above the Ramsgate salon, had to relocate last year after the building was deemed unsafe.
As well as leaving their home, it meant his beloved business, Marcello Hair Salon on West Cliff Road, had to close, leaving him out of pocket and his customers forced to go elsewhere.
Six months on, following repairs by Southern Water, the father-of-three’s business is finally back open and he says it feels “amazing to be doing what [he] loves again”.
“I missed this so much – I feel alive again,” said Mr Marino, 54.
“I love what I’m doing. For me it feels like a hobby because when I’m cutting someone’s hair all the stress goes away.”
Southern Water have provided some compensation to Mr Marino and his family, but the stylist says he is still waiting on more to come, claiming he is owed thousands.
He added: “I am insured, so I should get the money, but the problem is then my premium will go up. I have it in writing that they will pay it, so if they don’t I will take them to court.”
When disaster struck in October 2023, Mr Marino and his family were given just two-hours notice to relocate.
In the first few weeks he relied on support from his community to get by.
“I had nowhere to go and no money,” he added.
“I reached out to the community and I borrowed money, I got free food in restaurants and a lot of people helped me.
“To say thank you, we did a fundraiser and I have donated £500 to the Pilgrims Hospice charity and I will also donate 10% of my takings for the first two weeks I am open.”
A spokesperson for Southern Water said: “We’re pleased to see that his business has reopened and he and his family are living at the property again.
“We understand the disruption to Mr Marino and his family caused by our works to locate and repair a collapsed sewer.
“The safety of our customers is paramount, which is why it was necessary for this family to temporarily move to other accommodation previously.
“Following an investigation, we discovered the section of sewer that required repair is a private asset belonging to the property owner – however we carried out the work and have covered the costs involved in this.”
