MPs Bernard Jenkin (Harwich and North Essex) and Priti Patel (Witham) are calling for National Express to meet with them and Marks Tey station’s popular coffee and newspaper vendor Nigel Clark to find a way to save his business.  

Under plans to upgrade Marks Tey station and include new retail space, Mr Clark, who has been serving commuters for ten years, may no longer be able to operate at the station.  A petition signed by hundreds of commuters supporting Mr Clark was presented to Ms Patel and Mr Jenkin at the station on 16 July.  Mr Jenkin and Ms Patel have received a vast amount of correspondence supporting Mr Clark.  Mr Jenkin said of the campaign:

“Nigel is clearly one of our great British institutions and provides a highly valued service which Nation Express East Anglia customers seem very happy with.  We need to have a proper discussion with National Express East Anglia about this decision and see if a compromise can be made.”

Ms Patel commented:

“Mr Clark is a small businessman providing a valuable service to local commuters and the wider community. His business is very popular and with hundreds of people supporting him National Express should pay attention and help find a way for him to continue. It would be a great loss to Marks Tey if Mr Clark had to close his stand.”