Committee follows ousted leader (From This Is Local London)

Committee follows ousted leader

8:32pm Wednesday 26th July 2006

• Print
• Email
• Share

TEMPERS flared at a troubled traders association meeting on Tuesday night when the chairwoman announced her resignation.

Susan Hall, the chair of Wealdstone Traders Association and a Conservative councillor for Hatch End, stormed out of the meeting at Holy Trinity Church, in High Street, when fellow shopkeepers handed in a petition demanding she step down.

The remaining committee members also handed in their notice, unhappy with the way Cllr Hall, who had already resigned by letter, had been treated.

Shopkeepers are angry that no improvements have yet been made to the ailing High Street.

Plans have been made to reopen the road in a year but for one man it was too little too late.

Noel Sheil, owner of Gary Sheil, a family butchers, will lock his doors for the last time next week. He said: "Two years ago we employed five people, I now have two full-time staff including myself.

"I haven't ordered any more meat. It will cost me less to close up and pay my rent than to keep it open."

The shop is one of nine that have closed in recent months.

Business is poor due to a lack of on-street parking, cameras issuing parking tickets and pedestrianisation.

Milan Shah, owner of Pineapple, said: "Before the election (May 4) Tory MPs came and said the cameras will be removed but three months later nothing has been done."

Ean Levy, owner of Bags of Time, has been at the forefront of the campaign to get the street going again, although his methods were considered controversial by some.

Mr Levy was appointed the new chairman of the committee but support for his new role was thin on the ground and he was warned he would have to curb his tongue to get results.

Speaking on Wednesday Cllr Hall said: "The Tories are working hard to open the road. I have had a great deal of support from my committee and I don't think the new people realise how much work there is to be done."

• Print
• Email
• Share