Shopping in Leytonstone High Road (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Shopping in Leytonstone High Road

12:02pm Tuesday 20th May 2008

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By Flash Bristow »

Hi, I'm a passionate Leytonstone resident and I'm
really looking forward to blogging here. As well as everything it says about me in my profile, I am also disabled, and that brings me to today’s topic. You see, recently I needed a new outfit at short notice, so I hit the streets to seek one out. It hadn’t crossed my mind that this might be a challenge!

Rather than buying online or going into town, I decided to go shopping in Leytonstone High Road, for three reasons:

1) I like to support local businesses
2) I find it hard to get into central London on public transport and
3) I was in a hurry!

Well, it was quickly clear that the only shops I could get into were the big ones – chains – which defeated the point of supporting local businesses. As a note to smaller shops, even if you don’t have ramp access, it would still help if you kept aisles clear and at least a metre wide – not everyone is nimble enough to dance around obstacles (or even to spot them until it’s too late…)

Since we don’t have an M&S in Waltham Forest (and why not?) I went into Primark. Now, it’s not too many years since they refurbished – replacing the skanky cubicles at the front of the store (which somehow always smelled of sick) with new fitting rooms at the back. Yet after I’d spent some time picking out a shirt, I was met with blank stares when I asked for a wide access cubicle, and somewhere to sit while I was waiting. Eventually I had to drop the item and leave (maybe that’s why so many garments adorn the floor).

Come on Primark, you can do better than that! Your Oxford Street store has wide cubicles and assistance on hand – why can’t you do this in all your stores?

In the end, I went to the dreaded Matalan. I say “dreaded” because I can’t bear the way the cashiers robotically chant “Ma’alan card?” as you approach the till.

However, I was pleasantly surprised… The store not only had a shirt that I preferred, but they had an accessible cubicle with a firm seat, grab rails and room to move. The staff smiled and offered assistance. Thumbs up to them!

As for other shops – there are loads of potential shoppers on your doorstep, whose business you are losing! Why not accommodate us, and be a bit more welcoming while you’re at it – this would be a win for all sides.