Andrew Dismore

“..allowing greater flexibility so you can turn often empty office space into housing is right.” so says the Prime Minister, when he was asked about his Government’s policy which is leading to the closure of 150 businesses and the loss of hundreds of jobs in Premier House, Edgware ( Times,  31/7/14). His comments show how the Conservatives do not care a jot about small business.

It’s a pity the PM could not spare the time to meet  with all those businesses who are about to be evicted from Premier House,  some with only  a month’s notice ‘out of the blue’. If he had, he could have tried to explain how he thinks the building is empty when it isn’t, whether he meant this to happen when the Conservatives wrote  this policy, and what help he can offer to those who are now victims of   this short sighted action,  which is  a planning and economic double whammy for Edgware. 

Whilst the key   culprit is the Conservative  led Government , supported by Hendon’s  Conservative MP, why did Conservative Barnet Council unlike other boroughs, fail to secure  an exemption from   this new planning law?

 When I  raised the issue with the  London Mayor asking for assistance, he  passed the buck to the Council ( Times 31/7/14) . I have yet to receive a reply to  my letters of two weeks ago to the Leader of the Council,  asking for help for these desperate  businesses. It’s time the Council took its head out of the sand faced up to its responsibilities to them.

Andrew Dismore

Labour London Assembly member for Barnet and Camden and parliamentary candidate for Hendon