Covent Garden Business Group

The Covent Garden Business Group (CGBG) is the sister association to the CGCA and provides businesses in Covent Garden with a powerful voice in respect of the local environment. Covent Garden is known globally, with people travelling all over the world to visit and shop here. We therefore aim to protect and preserve the attractiveness and beauty of Covent Garden. The Business Group continuously supports and works on behalf of it's members.

The Business Group has regularly made representations to organisations such as the Police and Camden and Westminster councils. It always welcomes inquiries from members and we are happy to report that the group has helped a wide variety of members and other businesses throughout the year.

We are also pleased to report that Holborn Police station has finally reopened, after a very long closure for refurbishment. The presence of a much increased local policing team raises our hopes that the menace of muggers, robbers, shoplifters and aggressive beggars will finally be tackled. These problems have persisted during the past year and have become more than a nightmare for residents and businesses alike.

They also leave a bad impression on tourists who leave Covent Garden after having been perhaps harassed by an aggressive beggar.

The finish of Project Lilac, earlier this year, also signals some 'hope', as this well-intentioned scheme has not really helped local businesses much. It was intended to be a programme to clear and disperse the drugs trade (and the associated paraphernalia), instead it dispersed all problems onto the back streets of Covent Garden.

Once again we are hoping that the presence of the police will change this.

Finally, Westminster's licensing policies have developed further, in an attempt to address the situation of saturation. The granting of too many licences has resulted in many other issues and problems, for the Council, the Police and also other businesses.

Both Westminster City Council and Camden Council are therefore rethinking their policies in an attempt to regain control.

If you have a business in Covent Garden and are interested in playing an active part in our Business Group, please contact us. We would like to work with you for a better, cleaner and more enjoyable Covent Garden.

Sital Maan, Chair

 

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