A family-owned pet shop is set to close after 66 years due to lower footfall and rising costs sparked by tax raids from the Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Dabners first appeared on Surrey Street, in Croydon, in 1959, but a declining number of visitors in recent years will lead to the store shutting for the last time on Saturday, August 16.
Owner Mr Oram told MyLondon Ms Reeves’ autumn budget was the final nail in the coffin for his business last year, and the number of customers walking through its doors dropped by 30% in just one month, which Mr Oram said is the biggest cut he’s experienced in his 40-year career.
High streets have been hit hard since Labour came to power just over a year ago, with a host of big names announcing store closures and job losses. And it’s feared the Chancellor has more taxes up her sleeve this autumn with a mooted £1.7 billion raid increasing business rates.
Speaking to MyLondon, Mr Oram said the decision to close was “sad and very disheartening”, adding: “I’ve worked on this my whole life and to see it go down this way is horrible.
He said: “These taxes have gone up when we need the money more than ever.
“They (the authorities) should be paying us to be here, it’s us independent businesses who employ local people and attract shoppers to the area.
“It’s a ridiculous amount we’re paying. We pay £20k a year in business rate, and now only get 25 per cent back. And for what? Paying to have your rubbish taken away, not get policed, or have lower footfall in the area than ever.”
The 61-year-old inherited the business from his father, but is now looking to set up another pet shop in Horsham, West Sussex, due to the closure.
Mr Oram also highlighted a worrying increase in crime and what he said was a lack of engagement by the police. He told MyLondon: “Croydon feels a bit lawless. Shoplifting is worse than ever but we’re not getting any support. If we catch one we’re just told to email the police who never do much about it.”
The business owner recalls one incident last year when a shoplifter pulled a knife on him in the middle of Surrey Street when he tried to stop him from stealing a dog harness. Scotland Yard said they did not have enough evidence to prosecute the suspect, despite it allegedly being captured on video by a member of the public.
In response to a surge of shoplifting in Croydon, the Metropolitan Police said it was focusing on the most prolific offenders. Officers say shoplifting has dropped by 31 per cent in the town centre over the past six months.
Superintendent Mitch Carr, the Metropolitan Police’s neighbourhood policing lead for Croydon, said: “We’re working with local business owners to understand their concerns as we take a targeted approach to tackle the crimes that matters most to Londoners.”
Croydon Council has described the closure of Dabners as “disappointing”, and says it recognises the contribution the pet shop has made to Surrey Street over the past 60 years
A spokesperson added: “We understand these are challenging times for retailers nationally, particularly independent businesses. That’s why Croydon Council continues to deliver a range of business support programmes, funded by external grants. These are designed to help local enterprises build resilience, adapt to changing consumer behaviours, and seize new opportunities in a fast-evolving economic landscape.”
