Comments on: Guardians Of The Arches https://spitalfieldslife.com/2018/05/24/guardians-of-the-arches/ In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London Fri, 13 Sep 2019 16:26:11 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Rick Armiger https://spitalfieldslife.com/2018/05/24/guardians-of-the-arches/#comment-1313270 Fri, 13 Sep 2019 16:26:11 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=166533#comment-1313270 it gets worse…

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/sep/13/network-rail-failed-railway-arch-tenants-in-15bn-sale-say-mps

]]> By: Jonathan Ellis https://spitalfieldslife.com/2018/05/24/guardians-of-the-arches/#comment-1211303 Sat, 02 Jun 2018 16:24:27 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=166533#comment-1211303 What a Fucking cheek these railway elites have you guys are the beating heart of my community helping serving feeding and hard working .This would not happen in any other country.

]]> By: Susan Linton https://spitalfieldslife.com/2018/05/24/guardians-of-the-arches/#comment-1211299 Sat, 02 Jun 2018 15:42:05 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=166533#comment-1211299 Yet another assault on thriving small businesses. It beggars belief that the government is not intervening in this, the profit for Goldman Sachs will not outweigh the cost of the loss of amenities in the area, the personal loss to the business owners or the suffering it must be causing and will continue to cause. Is there not one decent politician left that will stand up for the normal, hardworking people, we used to be the life blood of this nation. I remember the arches when I was a child and watched as they grew businesses, fed families, gave life to downtrodden areas and service to the local people. I find it hard to convey how utterly disgusted I am by this. What is wrong with these people, is nothing sacred or important to them but money? They have no shame, no conscience and no moral centre.
They are parasites on humanity and it way past the time we stood up to those who should be in honoured service to their country and instead feed their insatiable greed from it.

]]> By: Ron Bunting https://spitalfieldslife.com/2018/05/24/guardians-of-the-arches/#comment-1210134 Fri, 25 May 2018 12:12:10 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=166533#comment-1210134 Here in Australia, a person can travel around any city in any state to the industrial zones and see building after building Empty and for lease or for sale. All because the rents demanded are far in excess of that which any small business can afford . Just like network rail, most industrial real estate here is owned by shareholding companies which demand a return on their investments. A look at network rail might reveal that the rail business is not paying as well as it should so an easy target has been discovered, tenants who have two options, pay a rental increase, or leave. The latter being almost impossible if you own something like a bakery or brewery.

]]> By: Vita https://spitalfieldslife.com/2018/05/24/guardians-of-the-arches/#comment-1210131 Fri, 25 May 2018 11:48:04 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=166533#comment-1210131 Just another saddening example of the fabric of what sustains local communities begin ripped out. I worked with Chris Grayling many years ago and thought him to be a decent colleague (before he got into politics and lost his soul) but I am horrified by what his department is capable of in the warped belief that our city is driven purely on economics. In my neighbourhood, TFL tripled the leases of a few local shops that had been trading for at least 30 years and are now standing empty waiting for a ‘coffee shop’ replacement or similar that in turn will compete with 4 independents that trade outside the catchment area. And I understand that unlike local authorities who at least offer a form of revenue tribunal, TFL does not. I am so dismayed by the continual drive to force businesses into closure or bankruptcy and with the collapse of the traditional ‘high street’ and its retailers, surely it is more pressing than ever to support and maintain the small business and encourage entreprise.

]]> By: Marcia Howard https://spitalfieldslife.com/2018/05/24/guardians-of-the-arches/#comment-1209989 Thu, 24 May 2018 15:37:49 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=166533#comment-1209989 The proposed rises set by Network Rail is disgraceful; it’s barefaced robbery, therefore criminal in my eyes. I shall certainly sign the letter for the Secretary of State. The rents mentioned sound pretty high already to me. We must help protect these valuable businesses and the owners’ livelihoods!

]]> By: Hilda Kean https://spitalfieldslife.com/2018/05/24/guardians-of-the-arches/#comment-1209973 Thu, 24 May 2018 11:26:22 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=166533#comment-1209973 It clearly is wrong with the over-charging of Network Rail re.,premises but the statements made by workers there seemed to have occurred no more than 30 years ago. I recall the late 1960s when I worked as a Christmas post deliverer to that London Fields area and ended up covered in grit from the railway arches’ wooden machines leading to pain under my contact lenses! When I went to the launch in the E5 bakehouse for the work of Colin O’Brien on nearby Children Travellers’ images from the past I also realised that that residential situation had considerably changed as well as the new nearby arches.

]]> By: Lynne Perrella https://spitalfieldslife.com/2018/05/24/guardians-of-the-arches/#comment-1209971 Thu, 24 May 2018 11:18:19 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=166533#comment-1209971 Thank you for keeping the spotlight on these intrepid entrepreneurs. Stating the obvious, this is a vital part of the heart beat of the city, and these folks should be encouraged and uplifted. I so enjoyed “meeting” these workers, through this series of excellent photos — and wish them well.
Power to the people of the arches!

]]> By: Richard Smith https://spitalfieldslife.com/2018/05/24/guardians-of-the-arches/#comment-1209965 Thu, 24 May 2018 11:02:21 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=166533#comment-1209965 What a disgrace it is that these good folk are facing such a hike in their rent. Network Rail should be ashamed of themselves. I wish all the Guardians of the Arches success in their battle to retain their arch workplaces at a fair and reasonable rent.

]]> By: Gerry King https://spitalfieldslife.com/2018/05/24/guardians-of-the-arches/#comment-1209951 Thu, 24 May 2018 09:46:37 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=166533#comment-1209951 Good argument for nationalising the railways. I hope these people win their battle.

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