Traders close to a Commonwealth Games venue claim they have been snubbed after being promised extra revenue and business opportunities from visiting sport fans.
Rajit Tagger, co-owner of Queen’s Fish Bar at Londonderry Road, Oldbury, claims his business has had a fall in profits because of road closures associated with the Games near Sandwell Aquatics Centre.
He said: “The whole thing has been a massive disaster for us. We’ve had many spectators visit the Aquatics Centre, but the majority of them stay inside the venue and eat there while the Games takes place. Then they travel to and from the Games via the shuttle buses down Manor Road, so they don’t visit the local area.
“Our regulars haven’t visited us because of the road blocks down Londonderry Lane. We’ve had seven or eight people as walk-ins after the Games have ended, but we’ve dropped our takings by a third.”
Mr Tagger, who has run his fish and chip bar for over 16 years, said he and other businesses were promised an increase in customers visiting the area, but that has not materialised.
“When I was a member of the Queen’s Head Traders Association, which represents our traders on this road, we were told by the council we would see an increase in footfall. We were having lots of meetings and they promised us this. But we’ve had no extra trade. Our customers are afraid to come out because of the road closures.
“At one point, I even considered closing at 8pm on a Friday because the footfall was that bad.”
Ranjit Tagger and Shelia Kaur behind a shop on Londonderry Road, Smethwick. (Photo: Rhi Storer via LDRS)
Other traders have experienced a dramatic decrease in profits. One, who did not wished to be named, said his profits were “down £3,000 a week” because of the road closures.
Suki Kaur, who runs Cake Break on Londonderry Road, said her trade had also been affected by road closures.
She said: “No one is going to order from us if roads are closed. It’s really affected my business. Before the Commonwealth Games we were so busy with orders flying off the shelves. But now, hardly anything.”
Shelia Kaur, who runs a corner shop, explained some cars have been parked on Londonderry Road for four or five days during the Commonwealth Games.
“They’re blocking the road up which means my customers can’t visit. If my customers can’t visit, they’ll turn elsewhere and that could mean they don’t come back. We’ve already had disruption due to the lockdown. I’m worried it will affect my business.”
One resident who visited Ms Kaur’s corner shop on the same day the LDRS visited Londonderry Road explained it was the “first time” he visited because of the road closures.
Rick Chiswell, who owns Ian’s Butchers, wrote a letter to Sandwell council two weeks ago explaining his dismay at the road closures. He estimated £500,000 of trade would be lost and “not recoupable.”
He said: “Much to our disappointment we have found the lack of communication through consultations and considerations to above does not seem to justify the end results. Their currently does not seem to be any benefit to local residents or traders, with traders having to deal with the continuous lack of trade due to the disruption through the development and the planned events.
“It is also important to raise that on the trial run spectators were bused in and out so no extra business was generated from the event. As we understand the reasoning for this is to reduce congestion in the area, traders were impacted due to lack of customers. Also to add to the disruption and lack of trade there were food vendors on site selling products that were available in the neighbouring shops.”
Suki Kaur at Cake Break on Londonderry Road, Smethwick. (Photo: Rhi Storer via LDRS)
In a lengthy response, a Sandwell council spokesperson said: “We are working hard to keep disruption to a minimum for residents, businesses and customers while road closures are operational, and make it as easy as possible for them to access properties.
“Sections of two roads – Londonderry Lane and Manor Road – are closed to general traffic, but they are both still accessible to residents, businesses and essential visitors with permits.
“These measures are designed to make sure residents can access their homes safely and reduce spectator parking in residential areas. The shops are located outside the barriered area and people can walk or drive around the road closures to get to them.
“While the parking restrictions are operational, we are being as flexible as we can to help businesses – for example, motorists who park to use local shops around Sandwell Aquatics Centre will be allowed 20 minutes before tickets are issued.
“We are also leaving in place the one-hour limited parking bay for the use of shoppers who require more than 20 minutes for shopping.”
Sandwell council told the LDRS the Labour-led local authority had been in contact with the traders association for a number of years and had improved pedestrian accessibility to their shops, including new zebra crossings and improved public spaces around the shops.
They claimed the “improvement works would not have taken place” if it were not for the development of the Aquatics Centre.
They added: “Many thousands of people are visiting Sandwell Aquatics Centre during the Commonwealth Games. Spectators as well as marshals, stewards and council staff working at the event are using the shops.”
The council also dismissed traders’ claims that they have lost out on custom for tourists visiting the Aquatics Centre.
They said: “When [Sandwell Aquatics Centre] becomes a key part of community life as a fantastic leisure facility, the centre will bring people to the area from across the region who have been inspired by the Games.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime event and opportunity – we thank residents and businesses for their patience and understanding during the Games and apologise for any inconvenience.”
Britvic, the soft drinks manufacturer set to be acquired by Carlsberg, has posted robust annual results after investment in marketing and product innovation helped it maintain demand for its brands.
Over the year to Sept 30, the company’s pre-tax profits climbed 10.5 per cent to £173.2 million despite a £21.3m hit related to the proposed Carlsberg deal. Britvic stated that its growth was driven by both volume and price-mix, with strong demand for brands such as Pepsi, Tango, Lipton, MiWadi and Ballygowan.
The group noted that scaling up new brands such as Plenish, Jimmy’s, Aqua Libra, and London Essence helped it build its presence in fast-growing categories. Meanwhile, it increased advertising and promotional (A&P) spend by 30.9 per cent to “support long-term brand growth”.
Volumes grew 3.1 per cent, driven by both organic growth and the acquisitions of the Extra Power and Jimmy’s brands.
Chief Executive Simon Litherland said, “We have delivered another excellent financial performance this year, with strong growth across our markets and portfolio of market-leading brands. We have also continued to ensure the business is fit for the future, adding more capacity, investing in our people, and significantly increasing investment in marketing and innovation.
“I am confident that the prospects for our brands and people are extremely positive, and I look forward to them going from strength to strength,” concluded Litherland.
Subject to approval by the regulatory authorities, the £3.3bn acquisition of Britvic by Carlsberg is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2025.
The Metropolitan Police has identified two new suspects in its investigation into possible criminal offences as part of the Post Office Horizon scandal. This takes the total number of individuals to four as the force also revealed it believes more suspects will be identified as the inquiry progresses.
Scotland Yard said members of the investigation team met with Sir Alan Bates, the leading Post Office campaigner, and fellow victims to update them on the development.
A Met spokesman said: “On Sunday Nov 17, members of the investigating team met with Sir Alan Bates and a number of affected sub-postmasters to provide an update on our progress and next steps, following an invitation to do so.
“Our investigation team, comprising of officers from forces across the UK, is now in place and we will be sharing further details in due course. The team is preparing to contact other affected sub-postmasters soon. While four suspects have been formally identified at this stage, this number will grow as the investigation progresses.”
However, Sir Mark Rowley, the Met Commissioner, has warned it could be years before anyone faces charges because of the “tens of millions of documents” that must be worked through.
Speaking previously on the matter, he said, “I think at the core of this you’ve potentially got fraud, in terms of false documents, if it’s for financial purposes.
“Clearly, we have to prove beyond all reasonable doubt, so really it’s 99.9 per cent, that individuals knowingly corrupted something. So that’s going way beyond incompetence, you have to prove deliberate malice, and that has to be done very thoroughly with an exhaustive investigation.
“So it won’t be quick. But the police service across the country are alive to this and we will do everything we can do to bring people to justice if criminal offences can be proven.”
More than 900 sub-postmasters were wrongfully prosecuted between 1999 and 2015 as a result of the Horizon scandal, in which the faulty computer software incorrectly recorded shortfalls on their accounts. Of these, hundreds of people are still awaiting compensation despite the previous government announcing that those who had convictions quashed were eligible for payouts of £600,000.
Oral evidence at the Post Office inquiry concluded this month.
New research by American Express Shop Small reveals the nation’s top 10 hotspots for independent shops, showcasing the small businesses and the valuable role they plan in their local communities.
American Express partnered with retail experts GlobalData to identify the top high streets for independent shops through ranking factors such as the number of independent outlets, variety of business types, and vibrancy of the high street.
The list also took into consideration the number of Gen Z and Millennial independent business owners (those aged between 18-43) in each location, factoring in how these younger generations are investing in the future success of UK high streets. Across the top 10 hotspots, on average over a third (36 per cent) of all business owners are in these age cohorts.
The research identified bustling St Mary’s Street in Stamford, Lincolnshire, as Britain’s top hotspot for independent shops – scoring highly across all the factors and delivering a unique experience for shoppers.
Britain’s top high street hotspots for independent shops:
St Mary’s Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire
Devonshire Street / Division Street, Sheffield, Yorkshire
Gloucester Road, Bristol
Market Street / Bridge Gate, Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire
Stoke Newington Church Street, Hackney, London
High Street, Narberth, Pembrokeshire
Oldham Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester
Bailgate, Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Byres Road, Glasgow
The Lanes, Norwich, Norfolk
Beyond their contribution to local communities, the research also revealed how living near a vibrant independent high street can benefit home valuations.
Dan Edelman, general manager, Merchant Services at American Express, said, “Small businesses play a crucial role in supporting local economies up and down the country, and it’s pleasing to now see their impact beyond the high street. Through our Shop Small campaign and support of Small Business Saturday we’re proud to be championing and shining a spotlight on the diverse and vibrant independent businesses who help our local communities thrive.”
The research is released ahead of this year’s Small Business Saturday (Dec 7), of which American Express is founder and principal supporter. Small Business Saturday is the UK’s most successful small business campaign. Over the years it has been running, it has engaged millions of people and seen billions of pounds spent with small businesses across the UK on the day, with an impact that lasts all year round.
Michelle Ovens, director of Small Business Saturday, said, “The nation’s 5.5 million small businesses bring incredible value to the UK’s economy, society and communities, and this research underlines the material impact they have in boosting local areas. On Small Business Saturday, and beyond, we are asking the nation to throw their arms around their favourite local small businesses and show them how much they mean to us all and the wider community. Public support is so vital for small businesses, particularly for the next generation of owners.”
Matt Piner, research director at GlobalData, commented on the findings, “Independent shops bring something different to high streets, offering uniqueness and propositions that are finely tuned to the needs of their local communities. As younger generations of shoppers are attracted to their local high streets, so too are shop owners, with a new breed of Gen Z and Millennial entrepreneurs helping to keep them thriving.”
As part of this year’s Shop Small campaign, American Express has pledged £100,000 worth of grants to small businesses. The Champion Small initiative encourages Cardmembers to nominate their favourite independent small business, with 10 set to receive a £10,000 grant. Those who nominate a business will be entered into a prize draw too, with a chance to win one of 50 x £1,000 statement credits.
Shoppers who walk and wheel spend more than those arriving by car, states a recent report, demonstrating the significant economic and social benefits of investing in walkable town centres, challenging traditional views on urban accessibility.
The findings published in third edition of "The Pedestrian Pound Report", recently published by Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking, come at a critical juncture for British high streets, with a record number of retail failures in 2022 and a vacancy rate of nearly one in seven by the end of 2023.
The launch of the report is backed by Scotland’s national walking charity, Paths for All, underscoring the need to make walking a central feature of Scotland’s high streets.
“Making high streets and town centres more walkable increases time – and money – spent in those businesses,” says Catherine Woodhead, Chief Executive of Living Streets. “It’s slowly being recognised – the majority (95 per cent) of London’s Business Improvement Districts identify a good walking environment as important to business performance.”
The report highlights encouraging data from Scottish towns, such as Nairn, where public space improvements and community events have significantly bolstered foot traffic. In 2022, a Christmas event in the town drew 7,800 attendees, including 600 new visitors, while a classic car show in 2023 attracted over 10,000, with 80 per cent saying they would return even outside of events.
Kevin Lafferty, Chief Executive of Paths for All, emphasised the broader benefits, “These findings show that when we put people first and make walking and wheeling the easiest, most natural choices, we don’t just get an economic boost – we build communities that are happier, healthier, and more sustainable for everyone.”
The report highlights that 85 per cent of Scottish adults walk or wheel regularly, contributing to both economic and health benefits.
In Scotland alone, the health benefits from walking to work are valued at over £600 million annually in prevented deaths. Community-focused initiatives, such as the Alloa Hub, are proving successful in encouraging residents to travel into town centres, with research showing that 56p of every £1 spent in community businesses stays in the local economy.
The report is timely, with investment in active and sustainable transport cut by £23.7 million by the Scottish Government this September. The Pedestrian Pound provides an excellent case for these vital funds to be restored.
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Home secretary Yvette Cooper speaking at the annual conference hosted by the NPCC and APCC on 19 November 2024
Home secretary Yvette Cooper has announced plans to rebuild neighbourhood policing and combat surging shop theft as part of an ambitious programme of reform to policing.
In her first major speech at the annual conference hosted by the National Police Chiefs’ Council and Association of Police and Crime Commissioners on Tuesday, Cooper highlighted four of the key areas for reform: neighbourhood policing, police performance, structures and capabilities, crime prevention.
The initiatives she announced include:
a Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee to get policing back to basics and rebuild trust between local forces and the communities they serve
a new Police Performance Unit to track national data on local performance and drive up standards
a new National Centre of Policing to harness new technology and forensics, making sure policing is better equipped to meet the changing nature of crime
The home secretary also announced more than half a billion pounds of additional central government funding for policing next year to support the government’s Safer Streets Mission, including an increase in the core grant for police forces, and extra resources for neighbourhood policing, the NCA and counter-terrorism.
In her speech, Cooper said that without a major overhaul to increase public confidence, the British tradition of policing by consent will be in peril.
“I am determined that neighbourhood policing must be rebuilt,” she said, pointing to its decline over the past decade. Cuts to community-based roles have left town centres vulnerable to rising crime and antisocial behaviour, she added.
“Shop theft is up at a record high, street theft is up 40 per cent in a year… Criminals – often organised gangs – are just getting away with it. We cannot stand for this,” she said.
Cooper reiterated the government’s commitment to deliver an additional 13,000 police officers, PCSOs and special constables in neighbourhood policing roles, adding that further steps will be announced in the coming weeks.
The reforms will restore community patrols with a Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee and an enhanced role for Police and Crime Commissioners to prevent crime. The changes will also ensure that policing has the national capabilities it needs to fight fast-changing, complex crimes which cut across police force boundaries.
“The challenge of rebuilding public confidence is a shared one for government and policing. This is an opportunity for a fundamental reset in that relationship, and together we will embark on this roadmap for reform to regain the trust and support of the people we all serve and to reinvigorate the best of policing,” Cooper said.