Home Secretary hits the campaign trail in Shepherd's Bush

Feb 26 2010 By Dan Hodges

Big hitters from both main parties continue to be dragged into the political battlefield of Hammersmith and Shepherd's Bush, which could go either way in the general election. Home Secretary Alan Johnson returned to his roots with a wander round Shepherd's Bush Market before speaking to DAN HODGES about Labour's chances

While Shepherd's Bush must have changed greatly since the late 1960s, when the teenage Alan Johnson frequently roamed its streets, the character of much of the historic market remains as it was.

But when the Home Secretary returned to the area on Wednesday, the remaining traders had one particular difference to point out – the bustling crowds which once rivalled those of Portobello Road have disappeared, with takings in today's recession-hit landscape even worse than they were a year ago.

There are several reasons suggested for the decline, not least the arrival of the giant Westfield shopping centre within spitting distance.

Stallholders also accuse Transport for London, which owns the market, of failing to properly invest while ratcheting up rents, and claim the lack of clarity on who is responsible for safeguarding and promoting the site – whether TfL or Hammersmith and Fulham Council – has left them stuck in a no man's land.

Matters were not helped this year when the council put new restrictions in place which limit parking in surrounding streets to a maximum of one hour.

James Horada, chairman of the Shepherd's Bush Market Traders' Association, said: "The market does make a profit, and TfL are taking that profit and putting it into the Underground system, they're not really reinvesting in the market itself.

"For the last 15 years they've been letting things drop and drop.

"When Westfield came along it put a lot of pressure on parking in residential streets, but the one hour parking restriction came out of nowhere. One hour is simply not enough time for people to pay and display, come to the market and have a browse, shop and get back to their car in time.

"That mistake is going to take a while to rectify, and overnight it has damaged maybe 20 per cent of the businesses in the market."

The council will shortly unveil plans for the widespread regeneration of Shepherd's Bush Market, and while the promise of investment is a cause for celebration for some traders, others fear the end result will be a reduced and more upmarket collection of shops which bears little resemblance to the original site.

Shepherd's Bush MP Andy Slaughter told the Home Secretary that the council's encouragement of developers in declaring the borough 'open for business' meant many important sites such as the market and the nearby Goldhawk Industrial Estate are at risk.

Mr Johnson took in the concerns of traders and residents over a coffee at the Aroma cafe, while reminiscing about his own experience of the area as a youth and a lifelong QPR fan.

"I used to go out with a girl from White City," said Mr Johnson. "It was a rough area and I used to get her to walk me home."

On the importance of preventing rampant development of the area, he said: "I've got an emotional link with Shepherd's Bush Market. It's really good to come down and talk to the local residents groups and traders and find that there are people who are determined to fight back against what they see as developers being given carte blanche to do what they want to do."

The Home Secretary said the 'devil is in the detail' of large scale development schemes, stressing that it is important for traders, resident groups, MPs and members of the local authority to work together to make sure the community reaps the most benefit.

The power of senior Government ministers to respond to their concerns is limited, he said, because decisions about local issues have to be made at a local level where there is good local knowledge.

Mr Slaughter said: "The Home Secretary is naturally sympathetic and understands the heritage here, and also can relate to the fact that people who live in Shepherd's Bush, whether they've been here for 60 years or six years, like the area for what it is. What they're against is destroying the unique nature of it."

The council is due to reveal its plans for the market in the coming weeks.

Responding to criticism of the new parking restrictions around the market, deputy leader Nick Botterill said: "The council carried out a parking consultation in Shepherd's Bush late last year and over 60 per cent of market traders who responded told us that they were in favour of a one hour parking restriction.

"This is because a 60 minute limit actually encourages trade and brings more visitors to the area due to the higher turnover of parking spaces.

"Nevertheless, we have spoken to many traders recently about our exciting plans to breathe new life into the market and improving parking is a recurring theme. We shall be releasing the findings of that consultation in the near future and will be addressing concerns raised in our proposals."

Labour has to cling on to knife-edge constituencies such as Hammersmith if it is to stand a chance in the forthcoming general election, and Mr Slaughter faces a strong challenge from Conservative candidate Shaun Bailey, with polls running almost neck and neck.

Asked whether Labour can convince both locally and nationally, the Home Secretary said: "Someone like Andy has got such a good track record. Take a second look at us and take a long, hard look at them.

"We have been in power for a long time - sometimes people think it's time for a change, and we've just been through a very difficult recession, but I've always said we underestimate the seriousness of the British public.

"As we come closer to an election, they're not looking at superficial issues like who's got a nice smile.

"Just have a look at what we've got to offer locally and nationally."

If the Tories win control of the House of Commons, it would leave no-one in place to act as a counterweight to Conservative ambitions in the borough, he said.

"When you've got the Mayor of London and the local Conservatives all working together, you're not going to get that sympathetic ear from the secretary of state and from central government that you're getting at the moment."

What should be done with Shepherd's Bush Market? And who is likely to convince voters locally? Have your say below.