Coleman accused of bullying over political posters

Tuesday, 01 May 2012

Poster rage: Brian Coleman argues with the owners of Hopscotch sweet shop

By Daniel O’Brien

BRIAN COLEMAN has been accused of bullying traders in High Barnet after demanding they remove posters attacking the Tory councillor and his parking regime from their shop windows.

On Friday afternoon the cabinet member for environment, currently fighting to defend his Barnet and Camden Greater London Assembly seat in Thursday’s elections, visited several high street stores displaying posters featuring his image and slogans such as “Wanted for the murder of Barnet’s High Street” and “Anyone But Coleman.”

Many traders and residents have turned on Mr Coleman since Barnet Council adopted a pay-by-phone cashless parking system in November removing all pay-and-display ticket machines. The council also attracted criticism last year when it raised the cost of parking on the street and in car parks to £2 an hour, and increased the cost of Controlled Parking Zone permits from £42 to £100 a year, and the cost of visitors’ passes from £1 to £4 a day.

The CPZ Action Group and Finchley café owner Helen Michael has each designed an “anti-Coleman” poster.

Anna Constantiou, who owns Rapunzel hair salon, in High Street, Barnet, said she was shocked when Mr Coleman came into her store demanding she remove a poster with the message “Sack Brian.”

“He said, ‘I want you to take it down right now. I find it offensive,’” said Mrs Constantiou. “I said it’s my opinion and I don’t agree with your parking restrictions. I can’t afford to park near here.”

However, she said she felt she had no choice but to take it down the poster.

“He was going mad and shouting,” she said. “He was right in my face and wouldn’t leave when I asked him. He was intimidating.”

Michael Kentish, owner of sweet shop Hopscotch also received a visit from Mr Coleman.

Mr Kentish said he had put up the political posters, as he believes the “rushed” removal of parking meters from car parks had had a dramatic effect on high street footfall.

“It’s been absolutely catastrophic for us,” said Mr Kentish. “I was about to have a good go at him but then my wife stepped in.”

Mr Coleman also visited Mailbox Etc owner Taz Khawja on Friday, but did not ask him or Mr Kentish to remove the posters.

The CPZ Action Group has also requested that all its posters featuring photograph of Mr Coleman be removed, as they do not yet have permission to reproduce the image.

The Press rang Mr Coleman for comment but he hung up.

Email: daniel.obrien@nlhnews.co.uk

All content © of North London Press unless stated otherwise.

4 comments on this news item

Posted by : Terry, havering | Tuesday 01/May/2012 | Report this comment

I have heard from many people over the last few years including conservatives who dislike him immensely.He was described as an arrogant condescending so and so by one. I believe that he is the sort of man who only makes things worse by his style of confrontation.Of course if he loses his seat in Barnet he will be out of work and £100.000 + worse off.He will then learn common humility.

Posted by : Tony, New | Tuesday 01/May/2012 | Report this comment

Brian Coleman This man is giving the conservatives a bad name and terrible image. One is now afraid to vote Tory in case he is re elected. Am I wrong when I say he is a right wing version of Ken Livingstone his motto seems to be ’it’s my way or the highway’ Let’s pray he is kicked out Barnet

Posted by : Adam, Barnet | Tuesday 01/May/2012 | Report this comment

Surely Barnet residents won’t be so stupid to vote in Coleman. If he does win, it will confirm my theory that a lot of Barnet residents would vote for chimpanzee if it was decked out in blue