When traffic wardens started to blitz a quiet corner of suburban London, one shopkeeper decided it was his duty to fight back. Martin Herdman put up a 1,000-watt public address system outside his shop near Twickenham and recruited a network of "spies" to alert him the instant they spotted a parking attendant in the area.
Then, as soon as the alarm was raised, he started playing a recording of a Second World War-style air raid siren over the system.
Mr Herdman's early warning system gives customers a chance to move their cars before they are ticketed by the warden.
He said: "Richmond council put in 19 parking bays for the 39 shops on the parade. They are very busy, interesting shops that include art galleries and herbal clinics as well as butchers and cafés. It is a really useful, trendy place to go shopping.
"We have had roadworks for two months now that have knocked out five or six of the bays, but the wardens are still hounding the remaining bays.
Without urgent action, the traders would be driven out of business, leaving yet another corner of London bereft of the local independent shops that provide character.
Mr Herdman said: "I shouldn't have to do things like this to get attention - I'm just trying to make it a better place for our customers and, hopefully, the council will come back with a sensible solution that will stop the decimation of our community."
Link & Image: DailyMail
Tags: WWII | Siren | Public Address System | Traffic Warden | Shops
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