DESPERATE customers are calling for a 'talented' nail technician to keep on working in Princess Square.

Gary Nguyen was given the opportunity to set up a nail bar inside Top Class Barber on January 5 after Salon Creative closed down in Market Street, Bracknell.

Ali Abdullah, owner of Top Class Barber in Princess Square, Bracknell, said he's been fighting authorities to keep Gary working in the nail bar inside his salon.

However, the owner said his hands have been tied due to Ali not having the correct leasehold to run nail services. As a result Gary's nail bar has had to stop work.

Ali said: "I helped Gary and the girls out as a package when Salon Creative closed last year.

"I went to Costa Coffee the other day and I had ladies stopping me saying 'shame on you', 'you shouldn't be doing that' but they don't know that I have been fighting with the landlords for Gary to stay. I am not allowed to have a nail bar in the salon.

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"I am more than happy with Gary and the service he was giving the public. I'm happy he can feed his family but the landlord is pushing me to close the nail bar. If I don't then I lose the whole business."

The closure news has been met with anger from local residents with a petition launched to 'save Gary's nails'. It has 654 signatures so far.

The Change.org petition claims local competition is the reason behind the recent changes and lay blame with nearby Hollywood Nails.

However, Hollywood Nails owner Lisa Nguyem told the News "it has had nothing to do with them" and lay blame with permit issues at the salon.

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The issues surrounding local competition and permits were clarified by landlords The Lexicon.

The Lexicon general manager Rob Morris said: "What products and services retailers are able to offer is agreed with them, in advance of opening, as part of their lease.

"While it’s not normally our position to comment publicly on the contents of tenants’ lease agreements, Top Class Hair’s lease agreement does not include provision of nail services, and therefore they would not be able to offer this service from their premises.

"Within Princess Square and Bracknell Town Centre there are currently four businesses who offer nail services."

But supporters of the petition disagreed about there being too many nail bars, with residents saying Gary should be allowed to trade.

Audrae Finlay, a supporter of the nail bar, said: "Gary is an absolute professional, fabulous with his clients and is a fantastic nail artist. He should be allowed to trade even if there is another nail bar.

"Shoe shops etc are allowed to trade within a few shops of each other so there should be no problem with this at all."

Another commenter Patricia Stephen echoed this and said: "I agree with fair competition. I have yet to hear a good reason why this addition to Bracknell town should be forced to stop trading."

Adding: "Healthy competition is good to keep up standards."