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Portobello Campaigner served a “Notice of Exclusion”



Marion Gettleson, a campaigner for the Save the Portobello Road Market has been issued an Exclusion Zone by Warren Todd on all his shops and arcades.
Marion Gettleson, a campaigner for the Save the Portobello Road Market has been issued an Exclusion Zone by Warren Todd on all his shops and arcades. 

As it has already been widely reported, Marion has been banned from entering several properties within Portobello Rd. The notice was hand delivered by Lee Clifford who works for the Warren Todd. 
 
So what has Marion done? Has she been damaging property? Has she been behaving anti-socially? Has she been caught taking illegal drugs within the premises? Has she been caught in any other illegal activity? ....Has she been groping Warren Todd (or any other form of sexual harassment)? ....No, none of the above... The crime is "Persistent leafleting/agitation of market traders". Apparently the Portobello Group (i.e., Warren Todd)  said that "Ms Gettleson is disruptive and inflammatory and traders are fed up with her politicking getting in the way of their work”. 

Marion says she's being intimidated. She also questions the legality of the Notice. See below for your own assessment (and let us know your thoughts!). 
 
Right click to choose 'open in a new window'
Right click to choose 'open in new window' 

The notice is issued two weeks after the crucial vote on the Admiral Vernon Arcade. The Evening Standard reported ' She is one of the main figures in the Save the Portobello Road market which has campaigned against changes such as a move towards seven days a week trading.' The way this is written is a bit misleading as the issue is not of campaigning against changes per se, but rather the type of changes. Also the issue is not so much that the campaigners are  opposed to the seven days a week trading but rather that this is an excuse by landlords to increase rents whereby only clone stores will be able to pay, therefore excluding the antiques traders and other local shops. 

The statement suggests that it has been issued to protect the traders, when in fact most of them have been supporting the campaign. Besides, Marion buys stock from them and this ban will prevent her from conducting her normal business. Damage is done to both Marion and the traders who pay their rent, yet lose one of their regular customers. 

What really is at stake here is really as simple as it is frightening. The notice illustrates how many properties are owned by one single individual within the Portobello Road. For the record that is numbers 101,103, 115, 119, 139, 14l, 143, 145, l4'1, 149, 153, 16l, 163,165' 167' 169, 177, all in Portobello Road. These include the Red Teapot Arcade, Abras Gallery, the Crown Arcade, Admiral Vernon Antiques Arcade, Harris's Arcade and the Red Lion Antiques Arcade. So now we  know in no unclear terms how may properties are owned by Warren Todd. If anyone was in any doubt as to the risk that the Market faces, one only has to look at the All Saints shop on the corner of Portobello Rd with Westbourne Grove – in other words, the site from the former  Lipka Arcade, now occupied by one single clone shop where not even street traders are allowed in the pavement. If this landlord were to have his way, you could kiss goodbye to the Market and say hello to Westfield on Portobello Rd, much like so many high streets across England. 

Having such a huge property portfolio in a much loved, diverse and unique part of London in a single hand is a huge risk for everyone. Property is undoubtably an asset but first and foremost it's a responsibility. The idea that that one single individual can change the face of one place by bulldozing his way through, despite huge opposition, shows everything that is wrong with the accumulation of wealth and monopolies. 

In a small but telling way, this Notice of Exclusion is an example of such risks. What is at stake is not the "Persistent leafleting/agitation of market traders" but rather the fundamentals of free speech. It takes on the similar (and now classic) tirade of ' you're either with us or against us' and it's enforced by excluding individuals from spaces where they operate in their daily lives as individuals, traders and social beings – in other words If lacking a good argument, make life harder for those who oppose you. The idea that a debate that is of a cultural and socio-economic nature, can be rebutted like this is as baffling as it is outrageous. 

Besides  the legal issues that may arise from this so called notice, this action only reflects badly on a property owner who claims to have the best interests of the Market at heart. It's a sign of weakness and only emphasises that Warren Todd is losing the argument, that the campaign is strong and that the Council has finally taken note of what is at stake as the vote on the Admiral Vernon has shown recently. 
 
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Comments   

#86 Marion G. 2011-07-26 19:42
I urge everyone to visit my save the portobello Facebook page and sign the petition. It doesn't matter where you come from , it doesn't matter who you are , just print out a copy of the form and sign it! Please hurry ! We only have a few days left ! Hurry , do it now !

Please I beg you all , do it in memory of Amy , our beloved Amy and the poor starving Africans . Although saving the Market is actually much more important !

Amy would I'm sure want us to save the Portobello Antiques Market in her memory. And the starving Africans are bound to be worried about what's happening to us too.What a shame they can't add their names to the list as well and help save us from those evil greedy developers.
#85 WT 2011-07-22 13:54
Quoting Flappo:
.....
Warren is waiting to pull the rug from your feet.... Ha, I wish him every success in buying the whole bloody area and turning it into a shopping mall. Maybe he'll give you plebs a job stacking shelves ? :lol:


Your right on the last pint , they event got a clue what their in four
#84 Lib Dem Pooftah 2011-07-22 13:50
Ok , you win Flappo.

I should've known better than take the likes of you on. Your reputation as lord of pwnage , destroyer of worlds , pusher of supermarket trolleys and all round devastatingly evil bastard precedes you. I am not worthy.

Would it be ok if I licked the sole of our jack boots ? ..Oh , that's got me quite excited.. err , oh no , the purple headed warrior is rearing it's ugly head again !!! Eeeergh..Oh no , I've made me trousers all sticky , what will me mum say ?
#83 Flappo The Grate 2011-07-22 13:32
If you're looking for trouble
You came to the right place
If you're looking for trouble
Just look right in my face
I was born standing up
And talking back
My daddy was a green-eyed mountain jack
Because I'm evil, my middle name is misery
Well I'm evil, so don?t you mess around with me
#82 trader 2011-07-22 08:36
Once again Spammo you emerge triumphant from your multiple divisions of self.
In the kingdom of the blind the one-eyed man is truly king !
....Have you ever stayed at the Y.M.C.A or the female equivalent.
#81 Flappo 2011-07-21 12:33
I couldn't give a shit what any of you losers think. All I do know is you're easy to troll beyond belief. :D

Bunch of small minded gullible dimwitted morons. Sone of which are trouser bandits , pillow biters , muff munchers and marmite miners.

Warren is waiting to pull the rug from your feet.... Ha, I wish him every success in buying the whole bloody area and turning it into a shopping mall. Maybe he'll give you plebs a job stacking shelves ? :lol:
#80 Trader 2011-07-21 08:38
As you are all for diversity I would have thought a persons sexuality would not be a subject for derision.
I am not Marion......go figure Sherlock.
#79 Herman Gay Munster 2011-07-20 18:25
Do you mind , I'm her son and I'm an MP too !
#78 Peter Baker 2011-07-20 14:37
Quoting Trader:
For flips sake, I am not Marion!
What would be really interesting is if YOU walked down from Chepstow thru to Elgin and polled the shopkeepers about WT. But hey! We all know that's not going to happen. Why not, you are so sure of the results. Come and talk to us, we are all here right now.
Local shops selling milk! What you can't be bothered walking one block down for your groceries.
So you were barred from a Facebook page.......get over it, or is your record stuck too!


Of course you're not Marion.

Who are you today then ? Maybe you're the one who looks like a camp version of Herman Munster ?

You won't be there for long ,enjoy it while it lasts :D

July 28th isn't it ? Put that down in your calendar..grate knowing ya !!! :lol: :D
#77 Trader 2011-07-20 10:39
For flips sake, I am not Marion!
What would be really interesting is if YOU walked down from Chepstow thru to Elgin and polled the shopkeepers about WT. But hey! We all know that's not going to happen. Why not, you are so sure of the results. Come and talk to us, we are all here right now.
Local shops selling milk! What you can't be bothered walking one block down for your groceries.
So you were barred from a Facebook page.......get over it, or is your record stuck too!

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