Mary Portas hits back at ex-Iceland boss over high street report
Ex-Iceland boss Bill Grimsey, who released a report on the high street, said that Mary Portas’ plan is a foolish stunt and that 20,000 shops may close.
To this Portas said that Grimsey’s review demonstrated no hope or care for the high street.
She went on to say that she would have liked more support from the government in “navigating” the criticism against her.
“I don’t know what my role is apart from being a campaigner, and I suppose I wasn’t used to politics,” she added.
Bank complaints hit record high
The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), which settles disputes between consumers and financial firms, said new complaints rose 15% to 327,035 between January and June over the previous six months. The surge has been attributed to a 26% increase in complaints about payment protection insurance (PPI), where people were charged for loan insurance which they did not need or could not claim on.
O2 operators to run Wembley
AEG Facitilies, operator of the O2 arena, has won approval to manage Wembley Arena.
It was given the all-clear by the Competition Commission to run the site on behalf of its owner Quintain. The move is likely to bring more “more live music and family events” to the 12,500 seat arena.
5,000 cyclists protest in London for better safety
Up to 5,000 cyclists took to London’s streets yesterday to call for better safety for cyclists in London. Organised by the London Cycling Campaign (LCC).
The LCC demanded London-wide 20mph speed limits in residential streets, at least £10 to be spent per head on cycling and the separation of cyclists from traffic on main roads.
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