• THE government’s huge hike in business rates looks set to close down our local high streets. It could mean the end of the road for small and medium-sized businesses, many of whom have been hit with crippling rent rises and now face even higher bills.

These smaller businesses are the lifeblood of our community. They are the friendly faces who have time for a chat, they are most likely to employ local people, and they give our high streets a unique and interesting flavour.

So we’ve joined forces with Islington Council and Islington Chamber of Commerce to ask the government to freeze current business rates. Islington’s new figures have risen by 45 per cent – the second highest in London and the fifth highest in the country.

Vacant shops, boarded-up pubs and empty streets will kill any sense of community.

Please sign our petition urgently. It’s in all your favourite local shops, and online at www.angel.london. It will only take you seconds – compare that to how long it will take you to shop elsewhere.

CHRISTINE LOVETT
CEO angel.london Business
Improvement District