Westminster Labour secures breathing space for Church Street shopkeepers facing 25% Council rent rise

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Westminster Labour secures breathing space for Church Street shopkeepers facing 25% Council rent rise

By Westminster Labour ⋅ December 8, 2008 ⋅ Post a comment
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Thanks to the efforts of Labour Councillors, Westminster City Council is reviewing the massive 25% rent increases being asked of struggling Church Street shopkeepers, following the petition presented to the 16th July Council meeting signed by 25 Church Street shopkeepers requesting a rent freeze.

Despite submitting the petition, some shopkeepers in Church Street have now received letters from the City Council asking for huge rent increases. For example, Church Street Warehouse at 73 Church Street, Kosravi Dentist at 69 Church Street and Mornicrest Chemist at 85 Church Street have all received notices from the City Council asking for rent increases. In the case of Mornicrest Chemists the Council wants to increase the rent from £17,800 a year to £22,250 a year – a massive 25% increase.

Now Church Street Labour Councillors Barbara Grahame and Aziz Toki have secured a commitment from the Council that these massive rent increases will be put on hold until there is a full review of the situation.

Councillor Barbara Grahame said;

“These are longstanding Church Street tenants with good records. Their presence in this important council-owned shopping centre adds to the viability of the street. The Council should manage its estate carefully so that a good mixture of tenants is retained and tenants feel confident that their individual situation is understood. There is no justification for 25% rent increases in these tough economic times.”

Councillor Aziz Toki said

“The Church Street shopkeepers are vital for the success of the area. If the Council forces them out of business by imposing massive rent increases then the whole community will suffer.”

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