Andrew Dismore

Burnt Oak has been rated as having the 5^th worst Town Centre in Britain according to the Harper Dennis Hobbs Vitality Survey, which looked at the health of the 1,000 biggest retail centres across the UK. Labour London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden Andrew Dismore said this was further evidence of “contempt with which the Council treats the area”.

 

The Vitality Index ranks all retail centres in Britain by quantifying the ‘retail health’ of each centre by measuring a combination of the proportion of up-market shops; the proportion of value-led shops; the vacancy rate, and the proportion of ‘undesirable’ shops – such as pawnbrokers, money lenders, and bookmakers. In addition, these variables are also compared to the demographic composition of the centre’s catchment area and a greater score is given to areas whose retail mix is optimally adapted to the local community.

 

Mr Dismore said:

 

‘Whilst I never like to do an area down, most people in Burnt Oak would tell you things can’t get much worse, and the Council have totally failed them. Despite years of work by myself and the ward Councillors, Barnet’s Conservative Council has never cared or listened to our concerns about the state of Burnt Oak. There are far too many gambling shops and payday loan shops, for example. The Conservatives have run out of ideas for the Borough, and new leadership is needed.’

 

‘I have been looking at “Good Growth” as a member of the Regeneration Committee here at City Hall. I successfully campaigned for the Mayor to approve £1.125 MedCity bid. Barnet could make a start by putting together a bid for similar funding and come up with a real plan to improve Burnt Oak town centre to the Growing Places fund.’