Came across an interesting article found in a recent issue of The Evening Standard...
According to a 'Clone Town' report from the New Economics Foundation, Richmond has been found to have London's most “boring” high street, with just five independent traders surviving amid the chain stores.
The study found many of the wealthier suburbs of west and south London are losing the battle against “cloning,” while edgier urban districts such as Shoreditch and Stoke Newington are fighting back with rising numbers of small independent shops.
The New Economics Foundation first warned that local charm and character was being eradicated from Britain's high streets by identikit chain stores five years ago.
And now this new survey of 30 London high streets found 13 qualified as “clone towns”, 15 were “home towns” with a good selection of independent traders, and two were borderline. It concluded that “west London's high street are losing their identity more rapidly than other parts of London”.
The report was particularly damning for Richmond, coming out with the worst score of all. The next most cloned were East Putney, Hammersmith, Clapham, Hampstead and Wimbledon. Brentford was an exception, scoring the highest rating for diversity.
The NEF said its success was partly down to a decision by councillors, residents and local businesses in 2007 to promote regeneration of its high street.
Is it time for a similar strategy to be introduced for Richmond in order to save our high street (and identity!) or are we already fighting a losing battle?
