The Slow Death Of Small Business In Harrow

The Harrow Small Business Destruction Unit

2011-04-03T15:56:00.000-07:00

In these times of recession, isn't it odd that the diligent folk at the Harrow Traffic Enforcement Unit (over seen by John Edwards-Divisional Director Environment Service) seem hell bent to ensure that small businesses in Harrow do not succeed.

Readers will be familiar with the fact that the previous council administration led by Councillor Hall (Conservative), which was spectacularly booted out of power last year, imposed a CPZ scheme on the county roads adjacent to the Pinner Road as well as imposing punitive road restrictions on the Pinner Road. (One of the reasons Hall was kicked out by the electorate was due to the imposition of CPZ in West Harrow. This is now in the process of being removed due to it being the cause of speeding cars and causing disharmony amongst local residents competing for parking spaces).

Susan Hall imposed the road restrictions and the CPZ on the adjacent county road despite there being and overwhelming majority against the scheme.
(The original postal consultation, held in September 2008, showed that in the County Roads area 50 residents supported the idea of a controlled parking zone (CPZ) - but 89 did not, with 11 having no opinion- reported in the Harrow Observer by David Tilley on 18th March 2009 )

Having created this artifical situation now the CCTV unit can play havoc on the Pinner Road, irrespective of what overtures the Divisional Director Environmental Services may make about making sure motorists comply with the artificial situation created by the actions of Hall.

Further more John Edwards-Divisional Director Environment Service- seems to be either deluded or disingenuous, when quizzed by the current administration about the camera van on the Pinner Road: this was part of his response:

"Staff in the van do speak to members of the public and aside from the inevitable comments, they do get complements from those members of the public that are fed up with illegal and inconsiderate parking"

I have taken the opportunity to video the van parked up on the Pinner Road on 2 of the many occasions they have been on the Pinner Road parked up for the last 4 to 5 weekends. On one occasion they were parked on the double yellow lines, clearly in breach of the law. I would be interested in how the photographic evidence is provided to a court if and when they are challenged on how that evidence was gathered.

On the face of it, it the law enforcement people are breaking the law to gather evidence, then how valid is the evidence gathered?

The first video shows (taken 2th April 2011 at 10.20 a.m ) the van parked on the Pinner Road opposite the parade of small shops- which appears intimidating to any driver who may consider stopping on either of the road. Also notice the only vehicle causing impedance to other road users like cyclists, cars and buses is the Camera Van (The Harrow Small Business Destruction Unit)

The second video shows (taken 19th March 2011 at approx 1p.m ) the van parked on the Pinner Road next to the newly built block of flats on double yellow lines - which starts to move as soon as the occupants of the camera van realise they are being photographed.

The Third video is of the road adjacent to Pinner Road- Bedford Road (at the junction of Pinner and Bedford Road)- The pavement adjacent to the road has been dug up and left like the for 3 weeks- The consequence of this is that the parking bays for deliveries and customers can't be used , I suspect the Harrow traffic enforcement department were well aware of this fact and used it as another way to generate revenue. They waited like vultures on the double yellow lines outside the newly built flats.

Here are links to the video relating to the camera van

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFY-GcSRIp8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tNRPnRDlaQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qApxm8j2JQY

Why Should We Trust Politicians?

2010-04-18T23:56:00.000-07:00

Like any other businesses, we have to adhere to strict rules as how products and services are described and subsequently sold. That is the product has to do what it says on the can!

So why is it that politicians local & national always seem end up doing the opposite of what they said they would?

As this blog is more related to the local issues in Harrow, I will restrict this to the scandal that is currently related to the current controlling group (which happens to be Conservative).

Note: I do not have a political agenda, nor a political bias. Having lived in Harrow most of my life I'm dismayed by the mindless destruction of our local communities, by ambitious, financially illiterate councillors. As Robin Day put it : ' Here today gone tomorrow politicians'.

As a consequence they leave in their wake broken communities, the cost of which have to be picked up by the local community.

In relation to Pinner Road, the initial consultation document which was sent to all the local residents in the autumn 2008, explicitly states that the changes would only be proceeded with IF THERE WAS A MAJORITY OF THE RESIDENTS WHO SUPPORTED THE CPZ.

Clearly this was not the case in fact there was a majority AGAINST CPZ.

So why have the controlling Conservative group usurped local democracy?

Can this be taken as tangible evidence that local Conservatives CANNOT be trusted to uphold our Democracy, which has been fought and paid for in lives, for nearly a thousand years and what our boys & girls are giving up their lives for on daily basis in Afghanistan -

Here is a copy of an article from the Harrow Observer

More roads to get controlled parking

Posted by David Tilley on Mar 18, 09 04:42 PM in Local Authority

Parking measures will be imposed on the streets of Harrow's County Roads estate, Harrow Council has controversially decided.

Councillor Susan Hall (Conservative), portfolio holder for environment and community safety, provisionally signed off the plan on Thursday, March 12 despite residents earlier handing in several petitions against the idea.

The original postal consultation, held in September last year, showed that in the County Roads area 50 residents supported the idea of a controlled parking zone (CPZ) - but 89 did not, with 11 having no opinion.

The CPZ will be introduced to the whole of Devonshire Road, Dorset Road and Oxford Road, the eastern sections of Pinner Road and Sussex Road, the southern sections of Rutland Road, Bedford Road and Pinner View and part of Neptune Road.

It will mean that drivers must display a permit to be able to park their vehicle within the CPZ between 11am and 12 noon on weekdays or risk attracting a parking ticket.

Extra short-term pay-and-display parking bays will be created at the southern ends of Devonshire Road, Oxford Road, Rutland Road, Bedford Road and Pinner Road.

In addition, certain junction throughout Headstone South ward will be painted with double-yellow lines as part of the scheme.

Ms Hall was recommended to approve the plan by the council's Traffic and Road Safety Advisory Panel which met to consider the issue on November 26.

Traffic officers at Harrow Council will now publish the legal notices required to confirm the introduction of the CPZ and, if there are no legal objections, the measures will come into force.

Six months after implementation, further consultation will be held to see if residents support an extension of the area covered by the residents-only parking.

http://wealdstone.harrowobserver.co.uk/index.html?page=2

If the initial consultation is a sham then how can any subsequent reviews be legitimate???

Shai Koria

Representing The Pinner Road Small Business Group

Open Email sent to To Stephen Freeman & Denis Thompson of Harrow Council

2009-04-25T04:40:00.000-07:00

Dear Sirs

We hereby put forward our objections in regard to the proposed new controlled parking zone- Pinner Road and county roads (zone U).

The imposition of double yellow lines outside all the small businesses would only serve to drive custom away from these businesses and hence add to the destruction of small businesses in the area. The affect would will be more acute to these businesses, as they like all the other retailers across the country are facing a recession (and possibly a depression), the likes of which, we have not experienced since the depression of the 1930's.

We have seen several shops have closed and left empty on the on the parade on the Pinner Road, between No. 184 and No.60. Adding further burdens on the existing businesses on the parade would only serve to drive them out of business and consequently put the employees of these businesses out their jobs.

There seems to be very little objective evidence to suggest that the current parking restrictions on the parade, pose any issue on the grounds of road safety or congestion.

It was suggested in the initial consultation document, last autumn, that 'Pinner Road was an accident Black Spot' I have since requested specific information relating to these accidents on Pinner Road. However, nothing has been forthcoming. The sparse information that has been provided seems to be of accidents which are away from the area where the restrictions are being proposed and is more related to the junction where Pinner Road meets The Gardens and Pinner View.

One further point being that the causal nature of these accidents have not been provided- i.e. there is no objective information to suggest that the prime variable in the all or majority of the accidents was due to the lack of road restrictions.

Its akin to saying that:' All Cats have four legs and hence, every animal with four legs is a Cat!'

The council also seems to be usurping local democracy, in the way it has disregarded the residents of Bedford and Rutland Road, where there has been an overwhelming rejection of the CPZ.

All the local council representatives ( the local councillors) were assured prior to the consultation last autumn, by the Council Leader, that the imposition of the CPZ would only proceed if there was a substantial majority in favour. Its seems the council has gone back on its word.

Yours faithfully

Shai Koria

Representing The Pinner Road Small Business Group

The Harrow Council seem hell bent in destroying the small businesses on The Pinner Road

2009-01-15T04:57:00.000-08:00

Having lived in Harrow for the best part of my life, apart from a brief period away when I went to university, I returned to run various businesses from Harrow. There was time when enterprise was encouraged, and small businesses flourished, which in turn created jobs and gave the working man dignity and the ability to support his/her family.

I'm dismayed at the sheer mindless vandalism, exemplified by the current council, in its attitude, towards small businesses. I have no political 'axe' to grind, nor any political affiliations, I'm calling it as I see it!

We have seen the near total destruction of small businesses in Wealdstone over the last 15 years plus, with the various road changes implemented by Harrow Council. We see now places like Rayners Lane and North Harrow, become virtual deserts, where only 'Takeaway' shops exist and where traffic wardens patrol the area with all zeal of a merchant banker, who's about to close a deal on selling a dud investment to an unwary investor.

If you listen to councillor Susan Hall, who's in charge of environment & community safety, at Harrow Council, 'It doesn't matter -Its the way our shopping habits have changed' ( I've paraphrased her, from my recent meeting with her).

I would argue that- It does matter!- Councils are elected by the local community to ensure that community flourishes, in return the community pays local taxes to enable the council to provide services to the community. Amongst that local community are the business community, the aim of the business community is NOT to take away from the community BUT to add to that community. It is a symbiotic relationship.

Over the years councils around the country have seen a new way to generate revenue by charging its constituents for something they already pay for twice in some cases and three times if you include central government.

This is how the wheeze it works.

(1) Its taken as read that a if you pay council tax then you pay for your home, roads and the services the council provides.

(2) The council has worked out how it can squeeze more money from a particularly section of community, the motorists and home owners, seem to be good target, as they will invariably be law abiding citizens and can be tracked down very easily- as apposed to someone who rents and perhaps doesn't tax or insure his/her vehicle.

So now they have identified a target, the only issue that remains outstanding is how do you Monetise this this resource?

(1) Why not charge the target group a new tax -How about the space outside their house? Where they have parked their cars for as long as they can remember.

(2) How do you sell it to the community?

How about saying that they will get a better environment, the 'nasty' local shops and their patrons will no longer be able to park their vehicles on those roads (as if these local businesses were a leper colony).
Safety for children, no facts and figures, just state it in the consultation document. This is always a good one to use as anyone who dares to question this is immediately regarded with suspicion
-CPZ is a good wheeze for a new tax - There's no doubt that, THIS is a tax on home owners and businesses. And once this is imposed its unlikely to be removed. (Note- Tax in UK was suppose to be temporary measure to fund the French wars, by the then Prime minister Pitt, in 1799).
It also appears that the Council officials have 'Gerrymandered' the results from the recent consultation of the local community. Majority of the residents of Bedford and Rutland Road along with Oxford Road, voted against the CPZ-However, Mr Stephen Freeman,the man in charge of this project alleges that as some people were for the CZP on these road (NOTE- Not the majority)- He sees it fit and proper to impose the CZP on part of Rutland and Bedford Road,

On that basis it can be argued that parts of your street should be governed by the Torys, parts by Labour, parts by Liberals, parts by the British National Party, parts by the Monster Raving loony party and whoever else gets a vote. I would strongly suggest that Mr Freeman read up on how democracy is suppose to work-and also consider reading up on John Stuart Mill .

Note: It was stated to our representative local councillors, that the CPZ would not proceed unless there was a clear majority. It is patently clear from the consultation returns that this is NOT the case.

Those of you who want to look at the results of the consultation document click on this link:

Parking Review Update

Even the Chinese government would be embarrassed to claim the above result shows a CLEAR MAJORITY

Not content with this the council is also going go put double yellow lines on the Pinner Road outside the all the businesses on the Pinner Road Parade and place bollards outside every shop to prevent the respective businesses putting their vehicles outside the premises- Again siting health and safety- As yet there has been no evidence produced that this a real issue or that any accidents have been caused outside any of the premises.

I challenge the council and its officers to provide any objective evidence which suggests that the Pinner Road is an accident 'blackspot', as they claim in their initial consultation document, and the causal nature is predominately the parking on the Pinner Road. All my requests, to date have been met with a deafening silence.

The council also claims that some of the parking problems on the county roads is due to commuter parking, and hence, another section of our community who is cast as villians by the council (bear in mind these people contribute into our community through council tax and local expenditure).

People who commute to work may well do it for practical purpose or perhaps they want to try and be responsible citizens by using public transport.

The fact is that the council has done very little to help commuters with parking near the local train stations, which means they may have to park near or on the county roads. Imposing the CPZ only displaces the problem NOT solve it.

To some degree the council have manufactured the problem, in order to raise revenue by the CPZ Tax.

For the benefit of Susan Hall and the Council employees, here's a newsflash-

We are in a recession!

To wantonly destroy local small businesses at a time when businesses are collapsing everyday, across the country, shows a distinct lack of awareness.

At a public meeting on 22nd January, Susan Hall was asked a simple question, which was:

'Would anybody living in a HMO (house of multiple occupation) be able to purchase parking permits when CPZ is implemented? '-

Her Answer was an unequivocal NO!

Today I have confirmation from that Phil Grant at the car parking department at Harrow Council (whose remit is CPZ), that everyone in a HMO will be eligible to buy a permit if they so wish.

What the above illustrates is the level contempt she holds the local residents of the area in and around the Pinner Road, that she will tell an untruth, just to have her way.

Shai Koria

resident of the Pinner Road

and Representative of the Pinner Road Small Business Group