Spartacus

Glad you agree that your resonse is nonsense Experience, common sense and logic are my guides here. Ate you experienced in running a small retail business ?

Sorry @Earl Aelfheah I forget that you are the chair of the ATCM and know everything about town centers and how local retail businesses run... Point to mention, the cheese shop was a new branch of their existing shops so not quite a new business but an expansion opportunity... You mention 3 businesses that have opened, chains that can weather lower footfall as their model isn't reliant on a small number of outlets, but you fail to mention the ones that have closed, of which there are a few and mostly sole businesses or small chains. @Insuflo businesses rely on footfall to bring sales and if its not there, they close. Other factors may also have an impact but as they are still trading elsewhere its potentially mainly down to footfall and sales in Dulwich Village.

@Earl Aelfheah They may have seen the square as an ideal location, or been sold the concept so its not in question why they opened there. Not sure wht you think thats the issue. Footfall is factor, passing traffic (of any kind) is another as someone passing by may 'discover' the shop and go there, but if they are diverted away from the area, as currently, they won't know about it or accidently discover it and so won't go there to use it. Pretty logical really and thats the problem as that impacts growth and economic prosperity for any business, and equally if people can't get there from further afield easily then they may choose to shop elsewhere.

I didn't speculate to a reason, i just highlighted that yet again a business on the square couldn't make it work. Pity as on paper it should have worked but hey ho, you feel free to sit in your bubble ignoring obvious signs that footfall and passing trade is down as a result of the road closures and the Square, especially as they aren't the first business to pull out if that area...

Do you ?

But still couldn't make it work, I think that is your point you are so clearly demonstrating hete.

This is a Philly thread

What a random statement about Liz Truss economics. Was this your attempt to paint a bizare picture about me to discredit my post? I didn't say they were an economical barometer, your choice of words, I was simply pointing out that yet another business on the square, which in other areas would do well, has gone. Draw your own conclusions but I think personally that lack of passing trade is a big factor here.

Not at all, drawing a potential conclusion from what has been presented that seems to support previous comments concerning impact of the square on businesses. You are happy to draw your own conclusion.

This does imply that they opened after the square was created, potentially didn't get the foot fall and passing trade and have now shut down on the square. Cheese shops seem to generically be a good business model and this closure potentially adds weight to previous discussions about the closure of the road impacting business and trade.

Have you found the cause ?

Are there any caravans, or similar around there, it might be inside a vehicle, if it is in a house or commercial property, unless its empty, the owner would notice, but vehicles are often out of earshot

Does it sound like any of these alarm sounds (ignore the cheesy US voice over)

Did you watch this ? https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002fygs/panorama-undercover-estate-agent it talks about some of the issues raised here.

I think the fact that these gas works were known about months ago make it different, Southwark could have temporarily delayed the work on Melbourne Grove and reopened it for 4 weeks as a diversion route freeing up strain on the roundabout, but that takes forward planning and intelligence I guess

If only Southwark hadn't just sealed off the ends of the roads leading into Grove Vale as thats stopped traffic bring diverted away from the roundabout.....

I wonder how much the rebranding is costing in total? Could the money be used in a better way ?

I am sure our lovely Evri delivery team, who do a firkin hard job, take the time between drops to read the East Dulwich Forum 🤫

If only "back to the future" was accurate as in 2015 cars could fly... no more gas works chaos but sadly they can't and we have to put up with it for a few more months. I wonder when using fossil fuels to warm our houses will be a thing of the past and all these lovely new pipes will be dug up as they will be obsolete?

I love the fact that virtually everyone held their hands out when furlough payments were made yet can't equate massive debt with massive cash payments to keep the economy ticking over.

I like this diagram more

I perceive the problem.simply as spending too much without first shoring up the economy. If the government had reduced borrowing, and as much as most hate the idea, reduced government deiartment spending (so called austerity) and not bowed to union pressures for pay rises, then encouraged businesses to grow, extra cash would have entered the coffers and at a later stage when the economy was in a stronger position rises in NI or taxes would have a lesser impact, but instead Reeves turned that on its head by increasing ni which has killed growth, increased prices and shimmied the economy. What's worse is that the perceived 20 billion black hole has increased to 30 billion in a year. Is there a risk that after 5 years it could be as high as 70 billion ???

Where do you buy your rose tinted specs?

Will she stay or will she go now? If she goes there will be trouble If she stays it will be double So come on Kier let us know know https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/07/19/rachel-reeves-is-dragging-the-labour-party-down-starmer-uk/

Of course they do, watching cookery shows and buying cook books is a national pastime. However you raise a good point that some people claim they are time poor and end up eating out / takeaways as sometimes a quick macciedee is cheaper and easier than making a quick nutrious family meal. However to put it in balance, not many people have the knowledge, confidence and time to cook Persian so good luck to team persepolis on this venture.