Growing Concern Over 'Crisis' For Chiswick Retail

Recent closures include Borough Wines, peppermint and Daniel Footwear

A string of closure of retail premises over the last fortnight has led local traders to describe the current situation in Chiswick as a crisis. They believe high rents and rates are contributing to the accelerating demise of local businesses and that the number of empty units make it tougher for the businesses that remain particularly independent shops.

The latest to depart include a nursery shop, a shoes/accessories shop, a wine shop, and the Lifetime Windows shutters shop in Devonshire Road. One local trader has said Chiswick risks going into a 'vicious circle of decline'.

Retailers say they face an unfair burden with business rates being most often blamed. Recent rates reassessment has meant many are having to cope with much larger bills. Other issues are rising rents, online competition and difficulties that customers have with parking.

Borough Wines on Turnham Green Terrace closed Saturday after only 18 months in Chiswick. The wine shop has also closed its branch in Clerkenwell, but still retains five shops in Hackney, Borough Market, Kensal Rise, Stoke Newington, and Hastings. A source told Chiswickw4.com that it was cheaper to operate in north London.

Peppermint, the nursery shop which sold pushchairs, and other baby accessories, also closed last week. We made several attempts to contact the company by phone and email to ask the reason for closure but have not had a response yet.

Lifetime Shutters and Windows has also closed in Devonshire Road, but its branches in Richmond and Teddington will remain open. It will be turned into a nail salon.

The shutters were pulled at the Chiswick branch of the Daniel shoe and accessories chain some weeks ago, and the company has confirmed to Chiswickw4.com that it is a permanent closure.

A sheriff's notice (Forfeiture of Lease) has been posted outside Studio M. The Odd Spot cafe also appears to have a question mark over its future as it is currently closed. Patisserie Valerie also ceased trading on Turnham Green Terrace after a major fraud took place at the company.

One trader said that he was told by a reliable source that a chain restaurant which closed on Chiswick High Road last year was paying more in rent for its W4 premises than for its branch in Kensington.

Another said, "At the moment footfall isn't a problem. We have lots of loyal customers and their is a growing awareness that if you value a local business you should use their goods and services. However, this very welcome support is rarely sufficient to outweigh the increased costs that are being piled on us. The danger is that vacant units will give Chiswick the depressed feel of that you experience in some other towns in the UK and fewer people will want to shop here. That will put us in a vicious circle of decline."

With at least half a dozen independent traders facing renewal of their leases shortly, it remains to be seen whether some of them may decide to call it quits.

There have been several posts on Twitter about the shop closures. One said, "Saddened to hear that @Boroughwines on Turnham Green Terrace is closing today after 18 months trading. Closing due to rent being too high. At this rate there will be nothing left in #Chiswick."

Another local posted: "I counted 24 empty shops between Hammersmith King Street and Chiswick ex Police Station."

The Chiswick Shops Task Force is working hard behind the scenes to improve matters for local businesses. The group was set up last year to fight back against the risk of Chiswick becoming a 'clone town' or a 'ghost town' and say unless action is taken, W4 is on course to lose its unique identity.

While some have called on the Council to help support businesses, it comes as Hounslow Council is currently facing a £16.9 million overspend for 2018/19, despite increased income (predicted £60 million from business rates).

Councillor Shantanu Rajawat, Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services said councils face pressures and an overall spending gap. The government had also introduced a new approach to distributing funding from central reserves which they have to get to grips with. As part of the second year of a pilot scheme, the Council will be able to retain 75 per cent of business rates earned in the coming financial year, (they used to retain 50% and pay the remainder to the government). However, a Fair Funding Review under which some of those rates may be re-allocated to other areas, is currently under consultation.

"There remains uncertainty over how this may impact London boroughs -there is a significant financial risk to Hounslow for 2020/21 and beyond."

February 6, 2019