https://jamescousins.com/2011/08/its-today-and-tomorrow-not-last-night-that-count/ A (micro.)blog without a purpose. Fri, 12 Aug 2011 11:58:00 +0000 hourly 1 https://jamescousins.com/2011/08/its-today-and-tomorrow-not-last-night-that-count/#comment-2241 Fri, 12 Aug 2011 11:58:00 +0000 http://jamescousins.com/?p=4909#comment-2241 Is anybody able to tell David Cameron that CJ is in Battersea, not Clapham?
See: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debate/?id=2011-08-11a.1085.3

]]> https://jamescousins.com/2011/08/its-today-and-tomorrow-not-last-night-that-count/#comment-2239 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 21:21:00 +0000 http://jamescousins.com/?p=4909#comment-2239 It’s been really heartening to see the community coming together, the atmosphere at the junction yesterday was really unique.  Who says London’s inner suburbs are full of commuters and don’t have a soul?  The Clapham Junction cleanup is apparently on the front page of the New York Times.   
 The next step is for us all, and importantly the Council, to help the businesses that have been affected get back on their feet quickly.  The sight at 1st stop & DJ stop on Lavender Hill is really upsetting – everything has been looted, the shop that was refitted two months ago has been terribly vandalised, and the sight of the etam picking up the remaining scraps of what was a thriving business is heartbreaking.  Woods Radio – another long established local business – ransacked, and complete with burnt papers littering the doorway –  was a terrible sight.  And of course the Party Store, famous across London and a busienss that started here from nothing.  Just to name three!   These are quality local businesses that have steadily built up over the years, without a huge conglomerate underpinning them, and the next few weeks will be absolutely critical for them.  I hope the Council can pull every string possible to get them cash and support fast to get back in business, and go door-to-door to help everyone affected deal with the red tape and get insurance help fast (using the Riot Act provision if necessary for the uninsured or underinsured).  And down the line, we need to ensure that businesses can stay safe (it’s extraordinary that Debenhams still doesn’t have roller shutters; which I understand is due to some sort of planning restriction – regardless of planning laws, we simply must allow every shop to install at least the chain link ones).  But far, far more importantly, we all need to vote with our feet and support these businesses with our wallets – they are the core of the community, and I think we’re now more aware than ever of just how much they matter, and just how fragile they can be.  

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