BUCKS: Poppy sellers "told to leave Eden" (From Haringey Independent)

BUCKS: Poppy sellers "told to leave Eden"

10:49am Thursday 6th November 2008 in

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Eden security guards told stunned poppy sellers to leave the shopping centre it was claimed today – because they did not have the right “permission”.

Furious pensioners today hit out at Eden managers after claiming three sellers were told they could not sell poppies without prior agreement.

They said the guards said they could only sell the poppies on four pre-arranged days during the fortnight-long campaign – and today was not one of them.

Eden was today not available for comment.

Volunteers hoping to raise vital cash for ex-servicemen said the decree was hampering fundraising efforts.

And residents were already asking where they could buy poppies, they said.

Two women were told to move by Superdrug they said – while a Second World War veteran was told to leave in the bus station this morning.

John Llewllyn, chairman of the High Wycombe legion branch, said: “It is disgusting.

“If it wasn’t for our grandfathers and fathers the Eden centre wouldn’t be here.”

He said the centre told the legion in advance they could sell on October 31, November 1, 7 and 8 – but he did not expect a problem if this was not followed to the letter.

Veteran Les Downard, 80, said: “I was selling poppies in the bus station and the security came up to me and told me I wasn’t allowed.”

The guard said the bus station was managed by Eden, Mr Downard said.

“I couldn’t really be annoyed with him because he was only doing his job so I shook his hand.”

Mr Downard, of Walton Drive, High Wycombe, said: “We should have a free run. We are not annoying people, we always stand out of the way. It is just petty.”

His wife, Phyllis, 75, said she was stopped by Superdrug with Joan Anderson, 78.

She said: “I was so surprised. Eden is such a large area. It is just bureaucracy.”