In an age of big brands, super-stores and self-service, our beloved local shops are struggling to survive. Although profitable businesses, many shops have been forced to close by landlords who seek higher rents paid by chains such as Sainsbury’s and costa.

In ham parade, this is exactly what is happening- following the closing of the bank in 2014, a Sainsbury’s was the newest addition to the parade in 2016 (despite many outraged locals being against the idea). Although there were mixed opinions at that time, and still today, by both consumers- who either think “it is more convenient”, or call it a “death knell for the parade as we know it”- and business owners themselves -who optimistically called it a “challenge” or thought “I don’t know how my business can survive”-, the Sainsbury’s has remained but there is a knock-on effect, impacting many other shops in the community. Since the new addition, rents have skyrocketed and customers have flocked to the “convenient” Sainsbury’s; this has resulted in the closing down of many shops including the Greengrocers, a second-generation family business, the butchers, and, most recently, the off-licence that I went into when I first moved to Ham, a place I was welcomed and even given a free sweet! It is simple, kind, welcoming actions like this ever so common in these shops that are sadly struggling.

As well as the ongoing problems, a new threat- a Costa- is yet again ominously waiting to do the same thing once more to the shops and cafes who have and will be tackling the rise in rent and perhaps the fall in customers. This may be the final nail in the coffin for some of our much-loved local delis, cafes and bakery’s so, the Ham and North Kingston Community Investors have set out to help the community by buying one of the buildings. They feel that “if we are the landlord then we get the final say” and so therefore will be able to rent it reasonably to a local business of the community’s choice- you can have a say using their survey- which will both help the original businesses and the new one of our choice.

The big shops that are buying up our local parades and ‘sucking the life’ out of them have the resources buy in bulk, hire more employees and advertise copiously in a bid to gain more customers and make their consumers experience smoother and cheaper. But is it right to give up local businesses, there for generations, just to save a few pounds? Is it better to have a ‘smoother’ service or to be able to chat to the shop keeper you’ve known your whole life? Do you want to save the parade? If you do, “anyone with £100 or more can become a shareholder”; and, with the profits split between community based projects and charity’s, there is even more reason to invest in your community!