The future of a Sloane Square vendor decided next week

After 30 years of trading outside Sloane Square tube station Mark O'Brien, 50, could be told to pack up and leave by Kensington and Chelsea Council.

His high profile protest has now been backed by more than 30 members of the House of Lords and England football manager Fabio Capello.

Mr O'Brien has been on a pitch owned by Transport for London for the last 30 years.

He has now been asked to move by the borough council on the grounds of a 1990 by-law which bans him from trading with customers on the adjacent council-owned land.

Council officers are stating that it is unlawful to trade on the forecourt in front of the tube station.

This comes two years after a new newspaper and confectionery kiosk was installed by the council just yards from Mr O'Brien's stand.

The final decision regarding Mr O'Brien's stall was to take place on Tuesday but the council cancelled the meeting on the day.

A spokesman for the council said: "Unfortunately the council had to postpone the meeting because of another meeting on at the same time to discuss the Workington Green estate.

"Plus the same senior officer and half of the committee is needed for both meetings."
After hearing the news of the cancellation Mr O'Brien said: "I was hoping that the meeting would go ahead and all of this would be over.

"It's been going on for five months now and I just want to find out what's going on.
"I can't help but feel there's an agenda there - the council just need to justify why they've spent so much on the new stand opposite me."

Loyal supporters, local residents and lifelong customers have stood by Mr O'Brien throughout the last five months.

Mr O'Brien said: "The support has just been phenomenal and all the emails, letters and comments mean a lot to me."

The news stand is the only source of income for Mr O'Brien, father of two children, and the hired two assistants.

The final decision will be taken by the Regulation and Enforcement Review Committee next Tuesday March 9 at 6.30pm at the Town Hall on Hornton Street, Kensington.