While Redbridge Council serenades the borough with its devotion to small businesses, doubts linger over its true intentions to Wanstead’s most loyal of High Street traders, says Colin Cronin-Whistlefrown
Dearest gentle reader, I am updating you with news from Redbridge Council. For I am as shocked as you that there is indeed some news (and I don’t mean anything about chess or CVs)! As surprising as it might seem, there have been stirrings underground amongst the trolls of Town Hall. Indeed, press releases and online posts are buzzing with the news: Redbridge Life is on your doorstep with the equally exciting promotion of ‘Small Business Day’ across the borough.
Redbridge Council were absolutely correct to champion this day (it was on 6 December). It’s what our Wanstead community has shouted about all along, not just for one day. Our small businesses along Wanstead High Street are part of our community and they are what makes this tiny part of Redbridge unique. Aside from their business operations, when a person trips over in the High Street (Redbridge should look at that paving), it’s our shopkeepers rushing out to help. It’s our shopkeepers who have readily offered sanctuary to kids being bullied or chased on their way home from school. Our shopkeepers who support us 12 months of the year as opposed to the mobile cash grabbers turning up for three weeks on Christ Church Green!
But there’s still a disconnect. Whilst council officers champion small businesses, I hear from my many correspondents that those seeking election this May do not. The charges of political motives have been laid at your doorstep by people who should know better. Elected officials who, rather than engage with local businesses on the High Street, now cross the road to avoid conversation with them. Indeed, the most out-of-touch justification they proffer is street-stall approval is a precautionary measure to ensure the correct licensing of our High Street! This from the very people who can’t enforce or have no interest in enforcing the already in place conservation area rules that govern our High Street. If it is a licensing issue, then stop wasting our council tax money and use the existing licensing arrangements used for the monthly market.
As a former local councillor, I floated the idea of a Christmas market on Christ Church Green 10 years ago, enamoured by the likes of the Christmas market I saw in Winchester. A quick consultation with our High Street traders informed me this was a very bad idea: it would decimate their trade and destroy our High Street. That’s called engagement. That’s called listening to your electorate. That’s called being a local councillor!
Our esteemed councillors and Redbridge Council should take note: small businesses are the backbone of our High Street, our community and our society! They are for all year, not just for Christmas! Above all else, our councillors should stop crossing the road and start to engage.
For more information on the street-trading proposals, visit wnstd.com/marketstalls
