5 August (Part 2) - Belvedere ASDA opens despite the initial opposition from Bexley council
There was a carnival atmosphere in Belvedere this morning when the new ASDA
store opened its doors for the first time. A bright green balloon flew overhead
but the local Conservative councillor, Kerry Allon, who totally misjudged the mood of his electorate by
trying to stop
the new store getting planning permission was nowhere to be seen. It later transpired that
the petition he had supported
had been rigged. Another supermarket chain was behind it.
Allon’s Labour counterpart Gill MacDonald was floating around but she ignored me as Labour councillors generally do.
The opening ceremony was graced by the presence of deputy mayor Geraldene Lucia-Hennis wielding an enormous pair of scissors.
Presumably
Belvedere is far too down market to attract the attention of mayor Sharon Massey but even
the substitute mayor couldn’t be bothered to dress up for the occasion, looking no different
to any other woman in the queue. A poor show really but Belvedere is to the North of the
borough and should be used to being rated second class by Bexley council by now.
As the final picture shows, the mayor looks a lot better in lace than an old black jumper,
but at least her husband consort looked the part.