Dear Fellow Traders and Partnership Members
How has business been so far this year? If you are having a good start to the year then you are in the minority and good luck to you? It seems the Majority of businesses in the High Street are having a very quiet time and we can all see the increase of shops becoming empty. This is not good for the future of Barkingside, so we should all start reflecting on our businesses and what future we have in Barkingside.
Why did you start your own business? Well surely the first criteria is to make money, have a comfortable living and get all the good things out of life, by crossing the threshold of working for someone and being your own boss. We all deserve a pat on the back for taking this brave move in the hope of living a good life. Running your own business is not a walk in the park and unfortunately choosing Barkingside may have been a wrong move for some of us.
Why?
Because Barkingside has been dying for years and the partnership was formed to try and stop the rot, it maybe to late for some businesses but change is beginning to happen and this has taken a lot of hard work, from a group of five committee members of the partnership, who have put a hell of a lot of work in building up the partnership and dealing with the council etc. This has all been done in our own time and although we still have our businesses to worry about, we do this work because we have the passion to save Barkingside.
The council has been listening to us because we have heckled and pressurised them. They have been forced to sit up and listen but this is not going to continue unless we all become more united and fight for our businesses together, as they are beginning to see by the poor attendance at our meetings that no one really cares.
What have we achieved so Far?
1. They have started putting up the CCTV cameras which should be operational by the end of the month, this would not have happened without the Partnership. 2. We have new lamp posts and benches being installed in April again under partnership pressure. 3. There is to be an extensive regeneration project consultation in which we will play a major part. 4. There is now a very strong possibility that a Major retail store is coming to the High Street which through our discussions with our MP, if this happens, will vastly improve our High Street. 5. We have a new cleaning machine to keep the streets tidy 6. We had a fantastic switch on for the 2007 Christmas lights event which was attended by over 1000 people (this has never happened before). Through this we have increased the profile of the High Street via the BBC and local Radio.
A lot more can be achieved in the future but we must all come together to make this happen. If we don't then this will be the end of the road for the partnership.
The next Partnership meeting will be held on Tuesday 18th March at 5.30pm at the Pie and Mash Shop. We need more businesses to attend this meeting and show support. Some of the businesses who have supported and been at the forefront of getting things changed are now questioning other businesses commitment to saving our businesses and High Street.
So please spare a couple of hours of your time on the 18th to share your views and show you care what happens to your business in Barkingside.
I would also like to thank the businesses who have attended every meeting.
Paul Burke
.
She said what? About who? Shameful celebrity quotes on Search Star!
1 comment:
All just a update to say that businesses I have been speaking too are
All just 'an' update
I have been speaking 'too'
Blimey and that man is from parliament as well.
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