Discussions between Sarah Olney MP, local councillors and shopowners about local business interests were raised at https://childlawobserver10.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=2285&action=edit on 12 April 2025.

The politicians were cagey about what was discussed and what might next be done. Business rates are an important problem in relation to the viability of local businesses, but they are for central government. Resolution of that issue is unlikely soon, if at all.

Equally significant and matters for local consideration are security and waste disposal.

On the security side local shopowners, especially the many sole traders, have legitimate concerns about police response times, if they are subjected to violence or shoplifting. These are problems which have been aired regularly. Given the Metropolitan Police plans for disbanding the Parks Police and passing responsibility for policing in the Park to the Community Police, how much more of a problem will that become?

More of a surprise to this local resident was the discrimination against local businesses in relation to collection of their waste. We all pay council tax and we do not expect to pay more to dispose of our rubbish. If you are a shopowner the Council charges you more, and at a rate where it is more economic to pay a private contractor.

How fair is that? And if the Council is serious about its wishes to support the High Street, the problem is capable of straightforward resolution.