A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO SUPPORTED THE NORTHCOTE CARNIVAL 2010 ON JUNE 13TH AND TO THOSE WHO CAME TO SHARE A BRILLIANT DAY
... IT WAS FANTASTIC!!
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Northcote Summer Carnival - June 13th
Now starting from 10am!
The Northcote Road Summer Carnival 2010 will now begin at 10am, with a family fair and market stalls open from that time. Live music and other acts will now be on stage from midday!
The Carnival takes place on June 13th from 10am to 10pm. The live music will include Skinny Machines, The Young Squires, The Lavender Hillbillies and a nine-piece gospel band!
It has been confirmed that the Carnival will include a procession of hundreds of children from local schools and community groups.
The Carnival promises to be a good old fashioned street party and will be even bigger and better than last year as the whole of Northcote Road will be closed to traffic. Over 10,000 people are expected to attend.
The Carnival will open at 2pm with a procession of over 2,000 children from local schools and community groups.
Other highlights include:
• A vibrant selection of song and dance performances from local children and artists.
• A grand fair open all day with rides suitable for children of all ages.
• The regular Northcote Road market with flowers, fresh fruit and vegetables and specialty cakes, breads and cheeses.
• An Italian market with a wide variety of foods, including olive oil, pasta, cheese, bread and beautiful Murano glass (see www.italianmarkets.co.uk)
• A carnival food market offering a selection of Continental dishes.
• Experience our fantastic local gastropubs, bars, restaurants, cafes and tea rooms.
• A great opportunity to sample what the local shops have to offer from beauty products to homewares to high end fashion.
Sponsors of the Northcote Road Carnival include Northcote Business Network, Wandsworth Council, The Clapham Junction Town Centre Partnership and Welovenorthcoteroad.com.
PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THEFULL PROGRAMME AND CARNIVAL ROUTE
Carnival details: Andy Wilson-Smith, Email: info@crumpet.biz
Tel: 07976 702409
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Business Rate Campaign Update
Every five years the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) revalues all commercial property in the UK. This valuation determines the amount of business rates paid over the next five years. Despite the recession, the Government has repeatedly added to the rates bills of many since 2007, resulting in an additional £8.4 billion in rates over three years.
The latest revaluation, which is based on 2008 rental figures will result in an increase in the region of 20% for at least 4 in 10 companies in England. Wandsworth has been one of the worst hit boroughs and consequently for over 100 commercial properties on Northcote Road (SW11) the average rateable value has more than doubled. This is a stark contrast to inflation which has seen a cumulative increase of 18% in the retail price index between 2004 and 2009.
The initial figures suggest that by 2015, the VOA will be collecting over £2 million per year in business rates from Northcote Road alone. The VOA offers no information about how this money will be spent but there has been no indication that businesses will receive any business related support or services.
Michael Gibbs, owner of Bolingbroke Bookshop and Northcote Business Network co-Chair says “We consider the Business Rates to be an unfair tax on businesses. The system of valuations is arbitrary, unfair and in need of a complete review,” says Gibbs.
Despite warnings from the Confederation for Business Industry (CBI) about the impact this will have on small business and strong opposition from the Conservatives, the Government is pressing ahead with this revaluation.
The Northcote Business Network continues to vigorously campaign against these increases to protect their businesses and their much valued retail community. The first wave of appeals has resulted in an admission by the VOA that “some rateable values need minor adjustment”. They have announced their intention to “reduce the proposed rateable value on [some properties in Northcote Road] in the region of 8.5%”. This represents a saving of more than £125,000 for part of the street but for the Northcote Business Network this small gesture is simply not enough.
The Network represents nearly 140 retailers on Northcote Road and is planning a group appeal to the VOA for all those businesses who wish to be involved. In November 2009 they wrote to Martin Linton (Labour MP for Battersea, Balham and Wandsworth) and Jane Ellison (Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman for Battersea, Balham and Wandsworth) calling for a complete review of the revaluation process. Mr Linton has not yet responded. Ms Ellison has advised that the Conservatives are opposed to the revaluation scheme and that they will continue to pressure the Government to postpone the revaluation.
For more information contact Liz Giannopoulos at liz.giannopoulos@btinternet.com or
call Andrew Wilson-Smith on 07976 702409
Contact Us
Businesses interested in working with other local businesses to promote the success of Northcote Road should contact its Chairman Andy Wilson-Smith (of Crumpet, Northcote Road) on 020 7924 1117 or by email to info@crumpet.biz
All Network membership fees will be invested in further promotion of Northcote Road and towards addressing challenges that arise for local businesses.
If you have any questions, news or event suggestions regarding this site, please contact the website designer and manager Richard Chumbley of Essential Local by email richard@essentiallocal.com.
Useful Links
www.wandsworth.gov.uk
The site of Wandsworth Council: Information and online services for residents and businesses in Wandsworth.
www.Ilovenorthcoteroad.org
Campaign by local residents to protect independent shops in Northcote Road. Their views are not necessarily those of the Northcote Business Network.
www.tfl.gov.uk
Information on all forms of public transport in London, routes, maps, journey planner and online tickets sales.
www.london.gov.uk
The official website for the Mayor of London and the Greater London Authority. Lists jobs, press office, publications, site map and contact details.
www.clapham-junction.com
Local community website for Northcote Road, Lavender Hill, St John's Hill and the area around Clapham Junction station.
www.insidebattersea.co.uk
Local website and online magazine offering information and features on the Battersea area.
www.essentiallocal.com
Independent local magazine, print and marketing specialist supporting businesses in Northcote Rd, Battersea and Balham with advertising, printing, design and distribution.
About WeLoveNorthcoteRoad.com
The launch of WeLoveNorthcoteRoad.com was celebrated last year at tea room Crumpet, a member of The Northcote Road Business Network. Attendees included Network Chair, Andy Wilson-Smith; Clapham Junction Town Centre Manager, Lorinda Freint; Publisher of Essential Local magazine, Richard Chumbley; and Northcote Ward Councilor, Martin D Johnson.
Designed and managed with the assistance of Essential Local, the site has been funded and created by the businesses themselves with three objectives: to promote Northcote Road to a wider audience; to keep local residents up to date with developments and events relevant to the road; and to help local residents and visitors to the area find products, shops and services through the provision of an easy-to-use online search tool and business directory.
The Northcote Business Network is an independent organisation supported by Wandsworth Council with the purpose of providing a forum in which Northcote’s businesses can discuss and tackle the challenges which face them in common.
Welovenorthcoteroad.com is unique in that it is operated as a non-profit organisation wholly controlled and owned by businesses of Northcote Road.
“The idea is that we believe there should be a website promoting the road that is operated purely for the benefit of its businesses and residents,” says Andy Wilson-Smith, owner of the Crumpet tea rooms and the Chair of the Northcote Business Network.
“It’s part of a larger effort on our part to let people know about all the great products, shops and venues to be found on Northcote Road and at the same time support our members. “We very much hope residents and visitors will find the site a really useful resource,” says Andy.
