KEN Livingstone met representatives from campaign groups against the redevelopment of Shepherd's Bush Market, Earls Court and Hammersmith Town Hall, as the race to gain Hammersmith and Fulham votes in the Mayoral Election gained pace on Thursday.
Labour's candidate joined Hammersmith MP Andy Slaughter and the borough's Labour party leader Stephen Cowan at the Grove Neighbourhood Centre in Bradmore Park Road, Hammersmith, for a half-an-hour chat with residents.
Mr Livingstone expressed his surprise that Hammersmith and Fulham has been targeted as a borough of development opportunity.
"This is one of the smallest boroughs in London and it is strange that developers want to come here when there are huge empty sites in the East End," he said. "What they (the Conservatives) are trying to do is change the landscape and force people out."
Mr Livingstone said no new property developments would be approved if he becomes Mayor unless they included at least 25 per cent social housing, but refused to say what he would do with the existing controversial borough applications for fear of prejudicing the planning process.
Responding to a question from Valerie Boughton, joint owner of the Cooke's Pie and Mash shop in Goldhawk Road which is threatened by the redevelopment of Shepherd's Bush Market, Mr Livingstone said: "I want to preserve the character of London's shops and to retain a good mix. London is becoming the same as New York. Tourists come to this city for character."
Mr Livingstone added that he hoped the traders secured a Judicial Review, which he said was the only way, if elected, he could block the application as the exisiting mayor has already given it his blessing.
This Mr Livingstone's second visit to the borough in the past week and, with Mr Johnson also regularly canvassing here, the Chronicle asked whether H&F is seen as a key voting battleground, but the Labour candidate said all boroughs were getting his attention.
Asked whether residents here could trust him, he joked: "My autobiography is available in all good book shops."
Mr Livingstone also continued his war of words with Mr Johnson, calling him one of the 'cleverest, most cynical politicians he has met' and alleging he has never met anyone whose 'statements bare so little resemblance to reality'.
