Work with retailers

Published: 18th March 2010

• IN response to your article (Little ‘love’ lost as shops face closure, March 11) I have to say that Camden Council has done a lot more than just “draping posters from lamp-posts”, to help businesses.
The council worked with businesses to find out what we could do for them in the recession, before it took action, in other words, we listened, not preached!
This work came under the Recession Recovery Fund we established, to the tune of £6million, as the recession kicked in.
As part of the Love Your High Street campaign, we worked with retailers to help them get the most out of shop-front advertising, giving them the tools used by the big chain stores to maximise their appeal to passing shoppers.
We’ve also funded “pop-up shops” in empty premises on our high streets, killing three birds with one stone, by having fewer shops, making the area more attractive, and by giving those who occupy the pop-up shops, a chance to get a foot on the retailing ladder. Alongside the Recession Recovery Fund, we set up a scheme that allows businesses in trouble to pay the business rates we collect on behalf of the government, over 11 to 12 months, instead of the usual 10.
Turning to parking controls, we have to balance the often conflicting demands of residents, visitors, businesses and the wider community. But we have put in more spaces for shoppers in Kentish Town recently, and we’re doing a review in West Hampstead on parking, at the moment.
The rents we take from commercially rented properties are used to fund vital services for our residents, so we do have a duty to them, to get the best deal we can.
However, we’re always happy to discuss the rent proposals we make to individual businesses.
Camden’s vibrant and diverse shopping streets form an important part of life in our borough, and we will continue to work in a variety of ways to protect and promote them.
CLLR KEITH MOFFIT
Leader of Camden Council