PM David Cameron: made promises to riot victims that have not been kept
8/8 One Year On: We find another riot-hit business that received grand promises a year ago, from no less than Prime Minister David Cameron, but has received next to no help since
One London Road trader has been forced to settle his claim under the Riots Damages Act – where the police is supposed to pay compensation if businesses suffer losses due to public disorder – at a large discount in order to get back trading, rather than be left waiting for the money he is owed.
Kanagaratnam Paramanathan, “Mr Param”, is back trading with his JK Gold House & Fashion House on London Road despite the shop being trashed on 8/8. But that is no thanks to the politicians says Param.
Param was among a number of London Road Tamil businessmen who got to attend a meeting with the Prime Minister directly after the Croydon riots. The meeting was organised by the office of the Central Croydon MP, Gavin Barwell.
Big promises were given by politicians after the riots a year ago. Delivery has been poor or non-existent, Param says.
By far the biggest part of the £23 million of riot money coming from the Mayor is going to transport schemes that were in planning long before last August, such as the Wellesley Road pedestrian crossings, far away from scene of the worst rioting.
“David Cameron was full of promises,” Param said.
At the meeting with David Cameron that had been arranged through the local MP’s office, the Prime Minister “offered ‘all the help you can get’ and that ‘you will all be up and running in months’.
“But we have not had a call from anybody since,” Param said.
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