Vince Cable

Vincent Cable MP joined shopkeepers and local residents who support them, in Wellesley Road, Strawberry Hill on Monday when they gathered to protest over the Council's plans to axe local parking around the small shopping centre.

Vincent Cable said that "the small shopping centre in Strawberry Hill, together with the Station, is the heart of the local community. The traders, together with the Residents' Association, have been trying for two years to get the Council to agree a set of measures which allow for dropping off at the Station and short term parking for shoppers.

"Then out of the blue, and in a great hurry, the Council comes up with a scheme designed to use up some funding from Transport for London. There has already been a big, largely critical, meeting of residents; and a large petition but the Council is charging ahead with only one, unwanted, option disregarding residents' concerns.

"I have asked the Council to postpone a decision for three months to enable other options, prepared by the Residents' Association and the traders, to be carefully considered."