Forum Topic

Remember, a local shop is for life not just for coronavirus

Its great to hear some of our local shops are seeing a boost at this awful time and are helping people who usually default to use  the supermarkets.When this is all over please consider continuing to use our local food sellers, cafe's, restaurants rather than just zombie round Sainsburys and Costa. Special shout out to 3 of my favourites on Churchfield Road, The beer shop, The English Butcher and Basil & Toms. Were brilliant before  covid19 and continue to be.Hopefully we can look back on this time and realise that it was a turning point for how we shop and can help Acton's shopping streets to be full of life rather than hanging on to it.

Tony Mansell ● 2193d8 Comments

Absolutely re banks. The government needs to remind them who bailed them out.And as for payment "holidays" what good is three months break, when you end up paying more in the fourth month? If you've not earned for three months, that doesn't mean you're going to earn more in the fourth month to pay back all the holidays. As a self employed person it will take time to get back up to speed.For example, my council tax is £117 per month. I've taken the 3 month holiday but it means I'll be paying back £170 per month for the rest of the year. Can I afford that? Probably not, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

Tania Bapuji ● 2185d

How about the banks funding it? As the business secretary said yesterday; the taxpayer bailed them out in 2008, now its their turn to help those who helped them.

Tony Mansell ● 2187d

It would be also an idea for businesses to get a rent holiday as well with the government then putting in place a scheme to compensate the landlords. This could be in the form of interest rate relief with the government funding the banks to cover the cost.

Kevin Howard ● 2187d

The business rates holiday is very good news for any business that actually pays rates. However lots of small businesses are physically small enough already to get 100% rate relief, so in practice this will actually make no difference at all.

Michael John Taylor ● 2187d

Small businesses are getting 12 month's business rates 'holiday'.

Peter Evans ● 2187d

I agree, we're very lucky to have such nice shops and I do try to use them usually. That said, when you have no work and therefore no money coming in it's difficult to justify using local shops rather than dirt cheap supermarkets.It would be nice if the council gave local shops a break so they could compete more easily with the supermarkets, but I'm living on Cloud Cuckoo Land if I expect Julian Bell to do anything helpful.  So, can those with money please keep spending local so the shops will still be there when I start earning again ;-)

Tania Bapuji ● 2187d

Beer shop is open. 1 in at a time, use the hand sanitiser and leave with your beer. I think my point is these places are inundated right now. Please keep using them after this lockdown so they can continue to thrive.

Tony Mansell ● 2190d

Both English Butchers and Basil & To are closed to anything but deliveries.Dunno about the beer shop

Sara Nathan ● 2191d