Sarah Olney MP reported in her Newsletter on Friday that she had recently held a community meeting with local businesses in East Sheen, prompted by East Sheen Business and Retail Association. They are concerned that our high street businesses are facing a crisis if certain issues are not tackled immediately.

While the government’s manifesto included the overhauling of the business rates system, there have been no systemic changes to speak of, while the reduction of the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Business Rates Relief Scheme will impact businesses significantly. Many of the business owners raised that their rates, on top of rent, energy bills, and other expenses, are too high and could force them into closing.

East Sheen Village issued a statement to EastSheenMatters:

“The most important thing is for people to shop locally in East Sheen in order to support the local businesses on their high street. When they shop locally, not only do they support the businesses but they help the local economy and keep our high street vibrant and alive. It’s sadly too late to support shops when they announce that they are having to close.

“We need more people to regularly remember to go into East Sheen high street to buy from a variety of shops, to venture into shops they have never visited before, to plan to buy their book a few days before they finish their current one rather than popping onto Amazon for a next day delivery, to purchase birthday cards from the independent shops, get beauty treatments locally, find the odd bits and pieces at the independent hardware stores, venture into the independent groceries and delis and eat and drink and meet their friends at the cafes and restaurants that sit along the whole of our high street.”

A recurring issue discussed at the meeting is shoplifting. In addition to the financial consequences, the emotional toll in being threatened or having your store broken into is sometimes not understood. The roundtable discussion registered that many owners are concerned about the safety of their staff. 

The local police have been granted a number of Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs) for identified prolific offenders. These orders will place restrictions on entry to certain places in Richmond, and in some cases, to the borough as a whole. It will make enforcement and prosecution an easier task if the offenders are found to be in violation of their CBOs.