It's nice of P1971 to say that, however, I don't think she's being fair to other landlords.

Both landlords and their trading tenants need to pay their respective bills, be those mortgage payments or rent and stock etc, so we are all affected by the natural ebbs and flows of the local economy, which can be dictated by so many factors.

Okay, so I'm more flexible than some other landlords because I know Forest Hill and I'm looking to its future as, hopefully, a place with loads of small, quirky and independent shops and businesses with a whole different vibe to most other small towns in London; and this is already starting to happen.

I know there's still some way to go but I appreciate the effort and the contribution, which small traders (like P1971) have put into their businesses and the area and I am only too happy to try to help in any way that I can.

Only with a joint understanding and efforts of landlords, businesses, the local council and bodies like the FHSoc - not to mention the support of the wider community - will our collective ideal become a reality so, in all honesty, I believe everyone who is working towards this goal should take some credit.