Wandsworth Conservatives

Supporting local business through the recession

10 September 2009

Wandsworth’s Conservative Council is working to make sure Balham businesses get practical support to survive the recession.

The Council is playing its part
by running regular business
evenings where local traders can
get the latest advice on surviving
the downturn and helping attract
quality new businesses to set up
shop in the town centre.

They’re also offering funding for
shop front renovation work and
environmental improvements to
keep the town looking good.

Of course some local businesses
are suffering as a result of the
economic downturn and the
Council is offering hardship help
to traders struggling to meet
their ever-increasing business
rate bills.

One of the most important
contributions they make is
keeping council tax the lowest
in the country so residents have
more cash to spend at local
shops and businesses.

All this has helped keep the
proportion of empty shops
in Balham at almost half the
national average and Balham
town centre has actually seen
a rise in shopper numbers
compared to last year.

The success of the Hildreth Street
Market is another sign the town
centre is weathering the economic
storm. A host of new stalls have
opened up recently adding
an exciting new dimension to
Saturday shopping.

The Council also has a range
of initiatives aimed at helping
families and individuals
with the recession including
new apprenticeships, skills
improvement programmes, job
shops, and free financial advice.

With no help from the
Government, Wandsworth Council
continues to offer the lowest bills
in the UK. There’s no better way of
supporting people and businesses
when money is tight than to make
sure every pound of public money
is put to good use.