Sad day as shop shuts

Published: 17 June, 2011

• LAST Thursday, Islington Chamber of Commerce (ICoC) was pleased to celebrate the launch of the Islington Fairness Commission final report – an exciting and what we are sure will be a groundbreaking piece of work that has taken more than a year to develop.  

The central ethos of the report is ensuring equality for all in a borough in which the gaps between the extremely rich and extremely poor are widening. ICoC is committed to encouraging its business members and all local businesses to become fairer employers by offering the London Living Wage and working to improve accessibility for the disabled. 

We have with some concern heard about yet more businesses in Upper Street closing down due to excessive business rates and strained resources. The fancy dress shop, Preposterous (aptly named in light of its impending closure), is closing its doors for the final time this month and we are saddened by the impact this will have on the character of one of our most popular streets.  

Though not the only reason, the impact of higher business rates has been blamed for the owner having to close the store. It is a real shame that this issue isn’t higher on the agenda within central government. 

Local businesses are crucial to the local economy and central government has to understand the importance of being reasonable with some of these excessive demands.

With the economy still in uncertain times, the effects of business rates are still relatively under-publicised and yet they can have a crippling effect on growing and established businesses.

RONKE LAWAL
Chief executive, Islington Chamber of Commerce