A GROUP of shopkeepers in Palmers Green claim they will soon close down if they are not given help to keep their businesses afloat.
As the country’s economic woes deepen, the owners of shops south of the A406 along Green Lanes say they have been hit by higher business rates, the rising cost of fuel and decreasing numbers of customers visiting the area.
Costas Karanikki, who owns Finesse Dry Cleaners, in Green Lanes, said his business rates had hit unaffordable levels after rising by 50 per cent over the past few years.
“I have been here for 23 years but now I want to close the shop and be done with it,” he said.
“I spend 60 hours a week working here and my wife and I only earn about £10,000 between us. I am better off on the dole.
“I have been told I no longer qualify for small business rate relief. Then there have been the repairs to the North Circular Road – road closures stop people coming through.”
During a heated meeting with Enfield Southgate MP David Burrowes and Achilleas Georgiou, the deputy leader of Enfield Council, in Mr Karanikki’s shop, the Green Lanes retailers said they needed more help.
Daphne Savva, the owner of the nearby Hestia Estates, said that parking charges should be dropped for the first 20 minutes to allow people to pop into the shops. “We first came here ten years ago and it was brilliant,” she added.
“Now slowly, one by one, all the good shops have left. There are only betting shops now.”
Mr Burrowes said this high street had suffered more than any other in the borough. “There is a particular case to be made for this stretch of businesses here,” he explained.
“Even before the recession these shops were not finding it easy and now it is almost impossible for them.” He called on the council to provide hardship relief to the retailers and to change parking regulations.
Mr Georgiou agreed to look at the local parking charges and urged business to take advantage of legislation changes that mean from April small business rate relief will be awarded automatically to businesses, providing they are eligible, rather than being asked to meet strict criteria to get the cash.
Enfield Today