| Topic: | How retailers might help us reclaim our streets from this madness | |
| Posted by: | Mark Talbot | |
| Date/Time: | 15/09/21 13:33:00 |
| When many of the retailers in Chiswick committed to leases to their premises they did so when customers didn't have to navigate a 2 way cycle lane to cross CHR and you could easily drive through Fishers Lane to reach Sainsbury's car park for your weekly / bi-weekly / monthly shop. The emptiness of Sainsbury's and it's car park can not be attributable solely to online sales looking at it's rivals car park and shoppers numbers, particularly Morrisons in Acton which indeed we now use living just north of South Parade and whilst being a longer journey in terms of miles is far easier and quicker now than the convoluted and often traffic jammed route we would now have to go to reach there. You can not do a large family shop by foot or by bike before I have that one thrown back. Retailers can appeal their rateable value following a material change in circumstances, and I believe significant road system changes causing a change in shoppers' habits being one of them so would love to see Sainsbury's along with every retailer on CHR submit an appeal on that basis. You never know, that might make Hounslow (I doubt Ealing) wake up and smell the roses. As I believe Hounslow need to also agree for Fishers Lane permanent closure it might just do the trick. |