New Clause 1
Greater London Authority Bill
3:45 pm
Michael Gove (Shadow Minister (Housing), Communities and Local Government; Surrey Heath, Conservative)
We were greeted by the tintinnabulation of bells there, although I do not think that they were tolling the death of London commerce.
I entirely take the hon. Gentleman’s point. My point about the westward extension of the congestion charge is that part of the cherishable nature of parts of Kensington and Chelsea and of Westminster relates to the fact that they contain urban villages and shopping centres with a variety of independent retailers. Part of the quality of the shopping experience that the King’s road and the Fulham road offer to residents and tourists depends on the variety of independent outlets. There is a risk of reaching a tipping point, at which the westward extension, added to various other factors, some of which he mentioned, will place such shops under much greater pressure.
I take the hon. Gentleman’s point about central London flourishing. However, there is also an area of conspicuous commercial success in Marylebone, which is just a stone’s throw from Oxford street. One reason for that success is the enlightened approach of the Howard de Walden estate to the mix of shops in that area. That underlines the point that there is suppressed demand for independent retailers. When we consider legislation, and when the Mayor considers the congestion charge, it is important to ensure that that spread of independence is not snuffed out by heavy-handed regulation.