Earlier this week Alok Sharma, the Secretary of State for Business, pointedly expressed his appreciation for the “dedication” of Supermarket workers. On exactly the same day Richmond Council gave 24-hours notice to a local Supermarket that a parking concession would be withdrawn immediately. A small number of staff at this Supermarket have been heeding Government advice to avoid public transport and drive to work.
My request that the concession be maintained until there was a virtual end to Lockdown was summarily dismissed. The most this Council would offer was a few days grace
This is how Richmond Council shows its appreciation after you will remember pressing all supermarkets to come to the aid of residents with special opening hours and dedicated staffing. Something they willingly did. Motorists are increasingly seen as a cash cow - and that is the end of the matter.
(Councillor) GEOFFREY SAMUEL
