I wrote the following email today to Space NK via their website…
The email is dated 2 December 2012.
–> During this time frame, they are trying to open a branch of their chain within Primrose Hill Village.
–> I have known this area for many years and it is not a good idea to do this as it will hurt local business and the area.
This is the email I submitted, let’s see if they reply….
Dear Madam or Sir,
I am writing to you in regards to your proposed/possible move to Regent’s Park Road in Primrose Hill Village, London, NW1.
Like many of the newspapers articles have stated recently and residents in the area have also expressed (including Mary Portas and Sadie Frost), we would please like you NOT to open a branch within our village. It is a special area that has many small and local shops. The area is peaceful and quiet and not a home for major brands. I know (and have visited your branch on Hampstead High Street). This is enough for the area. I also know that you have a branch in Kensington on the King’s Road. Regent’s Park Road is too small ever, literally, to turn into an area like this, but I would also like to prevent it from getting like Hampstead High Street or the King’s Road (with chains and the frenzy and materialism created by expensive shops). Britain, is already, too much of a consumer culture (as one sees by all the high fashion labels appearing in charity shops for pennies). Starbucks respected us when we asked them not to come into the Village, so please do the same.
Many thanks,
Alexa Williamson
ps I am a local Primrose Hill Resident of many years and am very grateful for it being a quiet area that supports the locals. I hope you will respect this and stop your attempt to put a shop in the village. I look forward to hearing from you if you have time.
________________________________
An interesting note on what happened to McDonald’s when they tried to open a restaurant in Glastonbury, Somerset… I relay this as it is slighlty parallel and interesting. At some point in the past, McDonald’s tried to open a branch in Glastonbury and it was protested by the citizens of Glastonbury. However McDonald’s still pursued and a restaurant was opened but the premises were burned to the ground. McDonald’s did not attempt to open a branch there again. That will never happen here, but corporations should respect the wishes of local people.
The London Reviewer 
UK Sunday Times round up (16/11/08)
Posted in News and features, tagged UK Sunday Times news stories, UK Sunday Times news stories and commentary, uk sunday times news stories november 2008 on November 17, 2008| Leave a Comment »
UK Sunday Times round up (16/11/08)
By: Alexa Williamson
A few interesting articles in this week’s paper that I wanted to highlight:
Teenagers to receive jabs to cut abortion
Nutshell: The govermnment wants to encourage GPs to give contraceptive jabs and implants to teenage girls so that it cuts down on the amount of abortions they have. The article also states that implants/jabs could render girls infertile for up to three years and that one-third of all abortions are repeat abortions.
Comment: Personally, I’m against the use of contraceptive pills as they are unnatural and can screw up a woman’s hormones and make her more susceptible to breast cancer and other illnesses. Some of the stories I have heard from women who have IUDs are horrifying. Teenage girls, imparticular, should not have their hormones and health put at jeopardy.
The great fixed rate [mortgages] loan rip-off
Nutshell: Banks reaping £3.7 billion a year on fixed-rate mortgage loans. Despite this, it is nice to note that fixed rates have come down since the last slash of the Bank of England base rate. The article also includes a ‘best-buys’ mortgage table.
Our tax manifesto: what Brown could do to help
Nutshell and comment: The ST has made an interesting and astute list of economic areas where Brown could make tax cuts or give tax relief.
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