Mayor of London Boris Johnson accompanied Matthew on a visit to Brent Cross shopping centre. The purpose was to meet store managers and discuss how trade had performed over the Christmas holiday period and what could be done to help keep the local economy moving.
Following the results from Tesco a few days earlier there was much concern about retail trade. Representatives from Starbucks, John Lewis, Waitrose, Office, Lush, Moss Bros and others told the Mayor that trading results at Brent Cross were better than expected as a result of a desire for high brand items and the discounting of goods but practical measures are needed to help the Centre remain competitive. As such Matthew will be working with the Mayor’s Office to improve the footpath between the Tube Station and the Centre, clean up the Temple Hof bridge over the North Circular and have an Oyster Card machine installed at the bus station.
Matthew said: “By working with the Mayor small improvements can be made that will have a big impact for my constituents. Boris commented on what a productive meeting it was and we were also fortunate enough to be able to do some shopping. With busy schedules, activities like shopping are often impossible so we both took the opportunity to purchase some work clothes as we spoke to shoppers and staff in the stores. This is going to be a big year for Boris and all of us in London, with the Mayor’s re-election campaign, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic and Para Olympics Games. After today neither of us will have many other occasions for shopping.”
Photo: Matthew is pictured with Boris Johnson and Lawrence Hutchings, Managing Director UK Retail at Hammerson