Boris Johnson's recent visit to Sutton enabled me to show him how local businesses are taking the lead in improving the town centre through Successful Sutton. They are far better placed to set and deliver a vision for business in Sutton than politicians.

The key issues raised by local retailers were their support for the tram extension and high business rates.

I was delighted to take him to Tazza coffee shop because it has a great story to tell. UnitedLife Church wanted to run a business at the heart of the community to be able to bring people and businesses together in the middle of Sutton.

So the town centre ends up with a community hub, a successful business and excellent coffee. That's definitely win/win.

After the usual bustle of a Boris walkabout on the High Street, pausing only to check the tennis score on the big screens on Trinity Square, we met the owners of Uno Tapas who have decided to invest in Sutton rather than their home town of Croydon.

As well as the multimillion pound schemes, these independent businesses are the sorts of positive examples that we need to build on to revitalise our Borough as a whole, not just limiting our ambitions to Sutton town centre.

Paul Scully
Conservative Parliamentary Candidate, Sutton and Cheam