We’re doing what we can to protect our small shops

Published: 10 June, 2011

• I am delighted the Tribune has chosen to give some coverage to the issue of small shops in Islington and the character they give to the area (Sir John champions shops, June 3).  

Since I was first elected as a councillor in 2006 I have been involved in developing strategies to defend local shops against the relentless commercial pressure from national multiple chain stores, which want to muscle in on the thriving retail market in the area. 

There are two problems with multiples moving in. They not only drive out the character that attracted everyone in the first place, and the area starts to look like any other high street, but they tend to siphon money out of the local economy, where locally owned and staffed shops tend to feed money back in.

This issue is particularly noticeable in the south part of Upper Street where the antiques market on Islington Green was closed without a murmur, with the loss of 36 small shops, the Gateway market was replaced by an estate agent and the superb Upper Street fish shop by a chicken chain.  

We have also lost the Angel Arcade and the Mall. What was evident to me in all these instances was that the bigger retailers needed to knock shops together to provide the floor space they needed for their style of retailing to work. What we needed, and didn’t have, was some kind of local policy protection that defends the small shops.

When Sir John Tusa says: “I wonder if councillors appreciate the benefit of small shops?” the answer is we absolutely do. And since we became the administration in May last year we have written new planning policies which protect small retail units, and require developers to provide new small units, which must stay as small units.  

We also now have a policy which prevents shops being knocked together. Using these policies, we are starting to be able to defend our small retailers via the planning system. A recent example of this is the application to redevelop the premises occupied by Bumblebee in Brecknock Road, where the planning committee decided the retail business was more important than the owner’s desire to convert part of the shop to flats.

The council is deeply committed to the economic and amenity importance of small shops and is taking practical measures to protect and promote them.

CLLR MARTIN KLUTE
Labour chair, planning sub-committee B

• THANK you for your profile of Sir John Tusa. 

During his BBC career he almost single-handedly rescued the World Service from wanton destruction, a threat that now once again hangs over it. 

Radio remains the sole source of impartial news in many countries. 

Sir John always held the highest Reithian principles: to inform, educate and entertain. It’s a joy to know that these days he is enjoying life in our cosmopolitan borough.

ANDREW GARDNER
Chairman, Islington Archaeology and History Society