Alarm at growing number of empty shops on Streatham High Road

10.36.07am GMT Tue 17th Feb 2009

Chris Nicholson has expressed alarm at the rapidly growing number of empty shops on Streatham High Road. In 2004 a Council survey revealed there were 19 shops on the High Rd. A Lib Dem survey in September last year showed that there were 64 empty shops and now Council officers have admitted that the latest figure is 81 and rising.

"This is really worrying," Chris commented. "Whilst I am pleased that TfL and the Council are about to proceed with the next stage of the works to improve the High Road, this is more than two years after it was supposed to happen. And central government are piling on the misery by increasing business rates by 5% in April. Lambeth Council and TfL should, as a matter of urgency get on with the plans to improve the rest of the High Road. We can't afford to wait another few years for the work to remove the central barriers, widen the pavements and provide short term parking spaces."