It’s been 2yrs since we last wrote our column, and as we all know, a lot has happened since 2020. Throughout the numerous periods of lockdown, we managed to remain in contact with the key Council officers. This is mostly to the early efforts of the Haringey Business Alliance (HBA). Setup in 2016 by Roger Ward MBE and Rob Chau, its an umbrella organization representing all the Town-centres and High Streets, to engage with the Senior Leadership team. As a result, the High Street team forms part of the Economic Regeneration, with a remit to help manage and support the borough’s business sector. A business ‘pledge’ was signed in March 2020.

During the Pandemic, many of the Council officers were re-tasked to help out with the business grants. This was a huge undertaking, and the fact that they had to go live with a new process from scratch whilst remote working from home presented many challenges. But unlike some London boroughs, which started grant payment with minimal checks, mistakes were made and erroneous payments made to the incorrect businesses. Many shops and businesses were forced to close, so it became difficult to reach the traders as a result. Luckily the Trader Chairs were on hand to help out where possible, to ensure assistance was given to those who needed it.

I had the privilege to attend a couple of the ‘Gold Group’ meetings early on, and was reassured that the Leaders of the major local services (NHS, Council, Ambulance, Fire, Police & Army) where all there focused on the Pandemic response. It was unprecedented times. We had briefing from the local NHS hospital Chiefs, and how food was being prepped and sent to the most vulnerable, efforts to secure more PPE for the care sector. It was all quite surreal, to then hear the similar picture reported in the national mainstream media.

But one thing struck me was the strong sense of community. There was of course apprehension in the beginning, but that quickly transformed into ‘how can we help’. Restaurants and food establishments were preparing and sending free meals to Hospitals, large discounts given for NHS Workers or no queuing required. The high street survived because of the interventions of the govt. The grants and furlough meant that many small Traders can keep going, until re-opening and the vaccine. In many ways, were are still at that point, waiting for the next announcement.

There were lots of interventions, ‘Rule of 6’, Alfresco dining, but the most significant was the ‘Eat out to Help out’. The scheme was launched to support the hospitality industry, subsidising 50% food discounts in restaurants, pubs and cafes, from Monday to Wednesday. Last Sept, Green Lanes for a brief moment, was like pre-Covid times which was quite extraordinary.

The High Street is the heart of the community. It’s the place where you’ll bump into a friend, a neighbour, have a coffee, meet for drinks, to celebrate, to pick up the birthday cake, the dry-cleaning. The convenient of transport link, and the daily commute. It is the everyday fabric of life, and the rhythm of urban living.

“The High Street is the heart of the community.
It is the everyday fabric of life, and the rhythm of urban living.”

As Traders, it’s our responsibility to ensure the High Street remains safe for families, for women, for children, clean, well lit, attractive and relevant. If there are issues, we will tackle and help iron out the wrinkles. In better times, we would look and bid for regeneration and funding to make further improvements, to hopefully one day, we can celebrate with another Food Festival on Green Lanes.

We do hope the hustle and bustle returns swiftly to all the High Street post pandemic, and that all your support means a lot for all that is Green Lanes…

Regards,

Rob & Shef

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