Out with the Old... Network Rail tell businesses to vacate Atlantic Road arches

[Dexter Deadwood]

Everybody says that they renovate these arches and put Pret, Wagamama and Pizza Express in them for the wealthy professionals that move in increasing numbers to Brixton. I am a wealthy professional and I will not set a single foot in any of these food chains. Not out of ideology but simply because the local independent restaurants and shops provide way better quality at a better price for pretty much every type of cuisine or produce. Why would I overpay for inferior quality? I'm not a bloody food chain charity. I really don't know who is supposed togo there.

Wrote the following letter to Lambeth council and Network rail to make it clear that they should not count on the likes of me to make their badly thought out business plans work.

------------

Dear Gentlemen,

Your hopes of attracting businesses able to pay massively increased rents probably rest on wealthy professionals like me who have flocked in increasing numbers to Brixton. I work in the City, earn a 6 digit salary and can easily afford to buy my Earl Grey tea in Fortnum and Mason. But let me be clear: I am totally against your plans and all my friends and neighbours of similar socio-economic background are so too. Let me explain you why.

Despite that I'm only here since 2 years I know my area well. I know that I can get a Pizza in Market Row that is far superior to anything that a chain like Pizza Express could offer - and at a lower price. I know that I get an excellent Cafe Latte and housemade bakery in an Italian cafe in Atlantic road which is in quality way beyond what Pret and Starbucks have to offer - and it's cheaper. The same is true for Japanese food, South American food (I haven't been to recently opened Wahaca a single time yet and don't know any local person who was) and pretty much any type of cuisine, produce and service. The chains who may be willing to pay the increased rents simply can't compete in price/ quality against the local businesses. And if I have the choice of overpaying for inferior food or stashing away some money into my personal pension then I will go for the latter.

The chains make sense in places with a lot of people in transit or from outside who don't know good local places and therefore like to rely on the chains' promise of consistent quality. Consquently there is some space for chains around Brixton tube station where a lot of outsiders transit (which is probably the reason why Starbucks next to the tube entry is doing quite well). But Atlantic Road is no such comparable transit place. Without us wealthy locals these businesses won't do well there and believe me - we have ZERO interest in them because they have nothing of value to offer us.

Brixton is today also a commercial centre for the Afro-Carribean community which adds so much to the buzz and variety of the place and is one of the many reasons I moved here. This will be destroyed in the process and won't be replaced by anything new. Nobody will come to Brixton for the chains. If I want to go to an H&M I would go to Oxford street where I get the bigger and better versions of these chains. If I want hip overpriced clothes I will go to Shoreditch where I will find plenty of these. None of these will succeed here.

As a result, Network Rail can expect fast changing tenancies of unsuccessful businesses. Lambeth Council can expect a decrease in economic activity in Brixton since existing functioning businesses will be replaced with disfunctional ones. And I myself will have to bear the disappearance of highly appreciated businesses such as Continental Delicatessen replaced with shops that can't offer me anything I could not get better and cheaper and therefore have no use for me.

So in the name of local wealthy professionals I urge you to reconsider your plans as they will not work commercially and will destroy the unique and lively community which was one of the main reasons I moved here in the first place.

Best regards,

A higher rate tax payer

 

[friendofdorothy]

Fine. Lovely. But what you have to undestand is that some people have been here for a while. There are some folks who have shoppped at stalls on Atlantic or under the arches for years. People who shop there out of necessity simply because it is the cheapest option rather than because they happen to be foodies.

You've dropped in a couple of years ago and tried to capture a snapshot. A lot of people on these boards will tell you that a lot of bad things have happened to the community over the last few years; what gives you the right to step in now and declare year zero?

Why do you only want a certain type of person to support the atlantic road businesses? It shouldn't matter why people support the arches' businesses, I'm glad they do.

(This thread is becoming: local shops for local people - nothing for you here)

I'll still support the arches fight against network rail, but I'm fed up of this threads bickering.

 

[Twattor]

Why do you only want a certain type of person to support the atlantic road businesses? It shouldn't matter why people support the arches' businesses, I'm glad they do.

(This thread is becoming: local shops for local people - nothing for you here)

I'll still support the arches fight against network rail, but I'm fed up of this threads bickering.

That certainly isn't my intent. These boards are riddled with "local stuff for local people" in a far more insular and protectionist way than would be tolerated elsewhere in the world, simply on the basis that this is essentially an extended "village".

There is an avowed reticence towards monied incomers attracted by the availability of relatively affordable yet interesting food, but as long as they profess support for the potentially displaced businesses priced out by the progressive rent hikes then is that sufficient to garner support?

 

[Gramsci]

That certainly isn't my intent. These boards are riddled with "local stuff for local people" in a far more insular and protectionist way than would be tolerated elsewhere in the world, simply on the basis that this is essentially an extended "village".

There is an avowed reticence towards monied incomers attracted by the availability of relatively affordable yet interesting food, but as long as they profess support for the potentially displaced businesses priced out by the progressive rent hikes then is that sufficient to garner support?

?

I do not understand. I read your previous posts as an example of what you are criticising now.

 

[Gramsci]

Latest street artist at work today:

His website here

 

[Gramsci]

This one is new as well

 

[Gramsci]

Save Our Shops poster in Atlantic road

 

[Gramsci]

Brixton Station Road:

 

[Winot]

Spotted this walking past just now:

 

[Baron]

New sign on Brixton train station stairs today!

 

[Dexter Deadwood]

 

[:-D]

Nathan doing the hoarding on the new bar.

Is this part of the art project? :-D

Yep, we'll see how long its around for. There were hoardings on the Brixton Station Road side when we first started planning the works but then the pesky builders only went and put in new doors and stuff before we had a chance to put anything up. I'm assuming once they have the new doors up on this side, this will go. We'll probably only be left with the splashes on the underside of the covered walkway.

 

[:-D]

A BIG SHOUT OUT TO ALL HANDHOLDERS. WE NEED YOUR SKILLS.

FULLY NVQ HANDHOLDER ? OR JUST HANDHOLDER CURIOUS ? ON SATURDAY, 25 APRIL, 1300H, ALONG ATLANTIC ROAD AND BRIXTON STATION ROAD THE INAUGURAL "SAVE BRIXTON ARCHES LINKATHON" IS HERE TO SATISFY YOUR HAND HOLDING NEEDS.

WHETHER YOU NEED SOME LAST MINUTE PRACTICE BEFORE ONE OF MANY COMPETATIVE LINKATHON EVENTS BEING STAGED IN THE RUN UP TO THE NEXT OLYMPICS, OR JUST NEED TO BUILD UP SOME CONFIDENCE BEFORE A FIRST DATE, COME ON DOWN !

 

[editor]

Save Brixton Arches: shops to close between noon and 2pm on Sat, 25th April

 

[Tricky Skills]

This is annoying. I put in an FoI to Network Rail, asking to see any correspondence between Lambeth Council and Network Rail. My interest was in finding out specifically what the Council knew about the evictions, and more precisely, when.

The FoI has been answered. Network Rail confirms that it has the information, but it is withholding it for commercial reasons.

Cop out.

 

[equationgirl]

This is annoying. I put in an FoI to Network Rail, asking to see any correspondence between Lambeth Council and Network Rail. My interest was in finding out specifically what the Council knew about the evictions, and more precisely, when.

The FoI has been answered. Network Rail confirms that it has the information, but it is withholding it for commercial reasons.

Cop out.

You can refer it to the Information Commissioner, I think, if you feel this information is being improperly with-held. It is possible to withhold on those grounds BUT they have to justify them fully to the ICO if required. So you could look into that, maybe, I'm not sure of the exact procedure though - check on the ICO website.

 

[friendofdorothy]

will be interested to hear if the traders were pleased with the turn out today. I hope the support made missing 2 hours of trading worthwhile for them.

 

[Dexter Deadwood]

will be interested to hear if the traders were pleased with the turn out today. I hope the support made missing 2 hours of trading worthwhile for them.

They loved it. Why don't you read about it here rather than pissing on it.

 

[friendofdorothy]

They loved it. Why don't you read about it here rather than pissing on it.

My that was personal.

I was there, I held hands, no pissing was involved in the making of my post. As some traders post here, I am hoping to read about it in due course.

 

[Dexter Deadwood]

My that was personal.

I was there, I held hands, no pissing was involved in the making of my post. As some traders post here, I am hoping to read about it in due course.

Ok. go and ask them.
Nice to see you today, you looked mighty fine and I liked your hat.

 

[Ms T]

I've only spoken to the guys at A&C, but they were very pleased with how it went.

 

[Baron]

Many thanks to everyone who helped this Saturday. We hope that the massive response will be heard by Lambeth and Network Rail. I was very happy to close for the 2 hours and I thank everyone personally for the effort outside my shop.

Every shop in Atlantic Road and Station Road has its own type of customer. Just because its not what someone else likes, does not mean that it does not have its worth.

SAVE BRIXTON ARCHES T'shirts are available and all profits are going towards the legal case pending so come get one ( or 2!).

 

[ViolentPanda]

SAVE BRIXTON ARCHES T'shirts are available and all profits are going towards the legal case pending so come get one ( or 2!).

What size do they go up to (my usual size is 50" chest, or "mega-fat bastard", as it's also known!) If you do have my size I'll probably buy one (or two!).

E2A: Available from where?

 

[Dexter Deadwood]

What size do they go up to (my usual size is 50" chest, or "mega-fat bastard", as it's also known!) If you do have my size I'll probably buy one (or two!).

E2A: Available from where?

Continental deli had some yesterday in XL and XXL sizes.

 

[friendofdorothy]

Many thanks to everyone who helped this Saturday. We hope that the massive response will be heard by Lambeth and Network Rail. I was very happy to close for the 2 hours and I thank everyone personally for the effort outside my shop.

Every shop in Atlantic Road and Station Road has its own type of customer. Just because its not what someone else likes, does not mean that it does not have its worth.

SAVE BRIXTON ARCHES T'shirts are available and all profits are going towards the legal case pending so come get one ( or 2!).

I'm glad - hope the other arches are pleased too. I realise how costly losing that trading time must have been for you all. I hope the publicity helps counter any loses. There certainly seemed to be a camraderie and affection for the arches amongst the protesters there. There's not many shops that would make their customers want to hold hands with complete strangers like that.

Ps I bought the Tshirt!

 

[ViolentPanda]

Continental deli had some yesterday in XL and XXL sizes.

Cheers for that, mate.

 

[Baron]

Up to xxxl.

 

[co-op]

This is annoying. I put in an FoI to Network Rail, asking to see any correspondence between Lambeth Council and Network Rail. My interest was in finding out specifically what the Council knew about the evictions, and more precisely, when.

The FoI has been answered. Network Rail confirms that it has the information, but it is withholding it for commercial reasons.

Cop out.

You can refer it to the Information Commissioner, I think, if you feel this information is being improperly with-held. It is possible to withhold on those grounds BUT they have to justify them fully to the ICO if required. So you could look into that, maybe, I'm not sure of the exact procedure though - check on the ICO website.

My experience of appealing to the ICO is that they are total pushovers for the most powerful parties involved - which won't be you - but you do have to do this to activate the next stage. So, appeal and get the photocopied turn-down and then the next stage is the Parliamentary Ombudsman. To go to them you have to get a referral from your local M.P. - I got Kate Hoey to do this a couple of times so if you have a cogent argument you should be ok - and then you will actually get a proper oversight decision. At this stage the fact that they turn you down a bit automatically earlier works in your favour as the P.O. will overturn the ICO. They rely on the fact that no one knows what to do after the first appeal is rejected and it's hard to find out - I only found out because I know a lawyer who knew how to look it up.

Esp. for you Tricky Skills, if you want to pursue deeper enquiries, (I think you did local journalism?) you need to get on top of this process, I think.

 

[Greebo]

Up to xxxl.

Excellent!

 

[gaijingirl]

I want to get a t-shirt.... should have bought one yesterday or today - I hope there will be some left. We have our Sunday lunch many Sundays at Cafe Max after swimming at the Rec. Yesterday we took part in the hand-holding with my kids. Today at lunch the penny dropped with my 5 year old.. she started to cry when she realised that the cafe might go. "but this is my favourite cafe in the whole world!". It was heart-breaking.