In Crossthwaite Avenue, SE5 8ET, FIVE small shops, classified as essential by the Council (hence obliged to keep open throughout Covid) now face imminent closure as a direct result of threatened Southwark Council rent increases of 143%! 

The long-established post office/newsagent, launderette/drycleaner, pharmacy, hairdresser and small supermarket form an essential community hub at the heart of several Council estates, Bessemer, Denmark Hill, Champion Hill, Cleve Hall and Sunray in SE5.

They are all classified as essential: they each provide essential services direct to a large local neighbourhood. They are the CORE of this neighbourhood community. 

These are the exactly the kind of neighbourhood businesses Southwark Council  claims to support. BUT, by threatening these disproportionate and unjustifiable increases Southwark Council seems determined to close them down!

Despite pleas and attempts at negotiation, our local Councillors, who pledge loyalty to the local community, have not, so far, helped.

These essential businesses are limited by their very position; they are NOT on the High Street! They do NOT have the capacity to pass on 100% increases to their local customers overnight!

We know that a similar shop site on another Southwark Council estate has recently agreed a much more reasonable and smaller increase. So why not at Crossthwaite Avenue??

These 143% increases thus threaten to destroy not only vital services but these shop keepers’ livelihoods! 

It is common knowledge that small retail rents are at an all-time low. So how could the value of these 5 small premises have increased by over 100% over the past 5 years?

Yes, we know that London Councils have had their Government funding cut, but driving small essential neighbourhood shops out of business by demanding extortionate rent increases is Not the answer!

The consequences of the Council’s threatened increases will be empty shops (paying no rent at all), livelihoods and hence homes both lost, and an empty neighbourhood with increased anti-social behaviour.

Please support this Petition to persuade Southwark Council to re-think their extortionate rent increases on small shops in SE5 8TE essential to our local Community!