Since the electoral defeat of former Assembly Member and Barnet Cabinet
member Brian Coleman in May, Barnet’s Tory council leader Richard Cornelius and
his colleagues have sought to distance themselves from most of the more
controversial policies that Coleman promoted.
Most significant among these is the parking scheme, which has caused so
much anger among the residents and traders of this borough.
At a meeting with Barnet traders at a North Finchley forum in December last
year, Councillor Cornelius was told in no uncertain terms by the shopkeepers and
small business owners of this borough about the devastating impact of this
ridiculous scheme. He replied:
“I’m listening, but I haven’t got any intention to do anything else other
than that ... I’ve heard you and it’s obviously affected me. I don’t know what I
can do. I don’t know if I can do anything.”
Local cafe owner Helen Michael said:
“We are wasting our time – you’ve said in no uncertain terms that you’re
not going to do anything. We are begging for our businesses, for our
livelihoods. Please do something.”
Councillor Cornelius and his fellow Tories sat back and watched as the life
of our local high streets ebbed away, in some cases losing up to 40 percent of
their usual level of trade.
He refused to do anything for us, so we acted for ourselves.
Bloggers, traders, residents, community activists and trade unions united
and voiced their opposition to the changes. Prominent among the campaigners was
Helen Michael. As spokeswoman for North Finchley traders she made every effort
to focus attention on the injustice and devastating impact of the policy, and
hold Councillor Coleman to account for the consequences of his scheme. Her
efforts won admiration from London Mayor Boris Johnson – and even Richard
Cornelius, who is reported to have suggested she should think of standing as a
Conservative candidate for the council.
Only since Brian Coleman lost his seat on the London Assembly, and then his
Cabinet post, and in response to two other electoral defeats, has the Tory group
on Barnet Council admitted that the parking changes were unfair, and sought to
retract them. Councillor Cornelius has now apologised for introducing the
policy, and a review is underway.
How ironic it is, therefore, that the woman who did what Councillor
Cornelius failed to do, and fought for the best interests of residents and
traders, is now being investigated by Scotland Yard, after an allegation of
wrongdoing in relation to a poster produced by her in the course of the parking
campaign. An omission on this poster was rectified early on in the campaign, and
Helen Michael was informed by local police that there would be no further
action.
Despite this assurance, Helen Michael is now being investigated by officers
from Scotland Yard, and yesterday spent two hours, under caution, being
interviewed at a local police station about the poster, and her motivation for
its publication.
We believe that this targeting of a local campaigner is a deliberate and
politically motivated act of intimidation.
To involve the police in this way is inappropriate, and a serious misuse of
their time and resources.
We call on Council leader Richard Cornelius to speak out against the
victimisation of a brave, resourceful and admirable woman. We call on Scotland
Yard to desist from taking any further action in regard to this matter.
Signed:
Derek Dishman
John Dix
Vicki Morris
Theresa Musgrove
Roger Tichborne
3 comments:
I commented at 14.18 this afternoon, but it has been removed. Is there a reeason?
Morris
It hasn't been deleted, you posted it on a different plogpost. The one re church farmhouse museum
Apologies - my mistake! Let's scrub them and start again.
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