If you live in Forest Hill and have not ever shopped on Dartmouth Road then I suggest you get down there pronto! It has really improved over the last year (down to hard working dedicated residents who have succeeded into making the area a better place to live). You can seriously spend a good couple of hours in FH on a weekend and I really try to buy at least my birthday gifts in Forest Hill. I find it hard to comprehend why people who have invested in living in the area would not want to spend some of their money in the area when it can only have a positive effect. My sister who now lives out of London was really impressed how FH has come on since she last visited and it would be a massive understatement to say how disappointing it would be to see some of the shops close down.
I wholeheartedly want both Dartmouth Road and the Horniman market to thrive and managed wisely by people who have the appropriate expertise I really hope this can be achieved. I've been trying to think of other areas in London that have a combination of a thriving high street and a local market - there must be some we can take lessons from?!