The 13-year-old struggle of a grandmother to remove five large telecom boxes from outside of her Carribbean restaurant was discussed in parliament.
Debbie Monfries, 64, says that the boxes have 'ruined' passing trade in Umana Yana in Herne Hill, South London.
Some boxes are 6ft long, which she believes has meant that potential customers cannot see her restaurant.
The boxes were installed in 2012 and Mrs. Monfries says that they have caused a devastating impact on her company and her health.
According to the government rules, telecom companies can install their boxes without the permission of Councils.
Mrs. Monfries believes that the boxes were installed by Virgin, which is said to have three, who sublet three more to O2 and Vodafone.
She complained to the Southwark Council for a few years in the hope that they would be removed and said she suffered because of the stress – which led to a heart attack in 2020.
Last year she was told that the boxes would remain, so she feared that she might have to close her company.

The boxes were installed in 2012 and immediately influenced her income, said Mrs. Monfries

Debbie Monfries and her husband Junior are the owners of the Guyanese restaurant Umana Yana
But on Wednesday, February 12, Dulwich and West Norwood MP Helen Hayes brought in a petition to remove the boxes to the Lower House – that caused new hope.
Mrs. Hayes said: 'The petition is supporting a restaurant called Umana Yana in Herne Hill in my constituency.
'It is a beautiful restaurant run by Deborah Monfries and her family, who are in the public gallery today.
'Deborah's restaurant serves delicious Guyanese food and I would recommend it to all members in the house.
'However, in recent years it has had a disadvantage as a result of the installation of huge telecommunication cabinets that cover up the view of the restaurant for passing customers.
“The petitioners therefore urge the government to raise legislation to ensure that small companies are not blocked by telecommunication equipment to ensure disruption.”
She added that the petition was signed by more than 1,700 locals.
Mrs. Monfries, Van Croydon, is hopeful that the petition can finally cause a change.
Over the years, the grandmother has received considerable support, including famous faces such as Rapper Central Cee.
She said: 'I am so happy that we have received the petition at Parliament because this injustice has been going on for 13 years.

According to the government rules, telecom companies can install their boxes without the building permit of councils

Debbie Monfries, from Croydon, said her health suffered because of the stress – which led to her in a heart attack in 2020
'I tried to bring it to court on various occasions, but from experience, no lawyers were brave enough to challenge these telecommunication companies.
“I now hope that justice will finally prevail.
'It is not fair that I have placed my lifetime ambition and every cent we had to open to open this company, only for the telecommunication companies to write it off as if it doesn't matter.
“It is so unjust that these big giants have no conscience or pay attention to small companies.”
Debbie, from Croydon, says that her health has suffered in the past decade due to the stress of the situation.
She said earlier: 'Before the boxes were installed, our annual turnover was between £ 70,000 and £ 80,000. After they were placed there, it fell to around £ 30,000.
“This was almost immediately. There was a clear link.
'The boxes block the restaurant from view. We used to be dependent on the passing of trade, but now no potential customers can see the restaurant.

The grandmother of six has received a lot of support from famous faces such as Rapper Central Cee
“We have never been able to recover from it. It has been so stressful.
“It became difficult in 2020. I couldn't afford rising bills – and the boxes ruined things. I had a heart attack.
“It was real, very difficult. It is emotional to think about. '
Since the boxes were placed outside Umana Yana for the first time, Debbie has fought to have them removed.
She has launched petitions, contacted politicians and even presented her case at the council meeting, but Southwark Council gave her only a definitive answer to 8 – 12 years after the boxes first appeared.
Southwark Council said they had tried to facilitate a resolution for 'a few years' – but claimed that according to the government rules of telecom companies can install their boxes without the building permit of councils.
During a meeting of the planning committee, a council officer admitted that it was the “worse thing he had ever seen, Southwark News reported.
But when asked whether the council would remove them, he said 'no' and claimed that they were 'legally' installed.

A petition to try to stop the boxes outside her restaurant received 1,700 petitions

Her local MP has now brought the issue to the parliament of parliament after the petition
Mrs. Monfries expressed her appreciation for local residents – who have shown her enormous support.
She said: 'The customers who know about me support me and love the restaurant.
'I was born in Guyana and so I cook authentic Guyanese food. When I started, I filled a hole on the London market. I just hope I can keep doing that. '
The government now has two months to consider the petition for Umana Yana.
CLLR Helen Dennis, cabinet member for new houses and sustainable development at Southwark Council, which we previously commented on the situation, said: 'We are to support the UMANA Yana campaign – try to facilitate a resolution with the telecom companies for a number of years where they remove their boxes.
According to the government rules, telecom companies can install their boxes without the permission of Councils.
'Since we try to help facilitate between all parties, we have always been clear that the boxes have been legally installed and we are joining others to call councils to get more power to act in these situations.
'Different routes that we have investigated over the years have a meditator and advertising for Umana Yana on the boxes with the permission of the telecom companies.
'We have all the sympathy for the owner of Umana Yana, which is why we have put forward an article 4 motion.
“This requires that telecom companies ask us for a building permit to install their boxes, masts and similar structures at this location, including any replacements.”
Virgin is contacted for comment.