Shopkeepers say streatery 'choking' Primrose Hill high street

Barriers were placed in Regents Park Road and Erskine Road in Primrose Hill during the Covid pandemic so restaurants and cafes could serve customers who sat outside.

But Camden Council recently agreed to extend the operation and implemented experimental traffic orders for a further 18 months.

Now shopkeepers claim they are losing around 1,200 customers a week as 23 parking bays are fenced off by barriers.

Small businesses are suffering, cafes are proliferating and the high street looks "uncared for and unloved" they say.

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In a consultation last year 37 people said they wanted the streateries while 29 were against.

Anna Park, owner of ANNA, a women's wear business in Regent's Park Road, says there's "no help for small businesses".

Barriers take up vital parking spaces in Primrose Hill where retailers are suffering while cafes and restaurants are surviving (Image: Nathalie Raffray)

"These streateries massively affect me," she said. "On numerous occasions I've tried to remove the barriers to try and create parking spaces but they have all been put back.

"We're all trying to get customers following our closure during Covid and now there's nowhere for our customers to park."

Patricia Blanck, owner of Fitzroy Flowers in Regent's Park Road, worked out that if three vehicles a day used the 23 parking bays with an average of 2.5 people each, they would lose 1,207 visitors a week.

After trading in the area for 29 years, Patricia said she may be forced to close when her lease comes up for renewal next year.

"The butcher recently closed, the dress shop, everybody is suffering," she said.

"A lot more shops will close and cafes will open."

But cafes say they will be forced out if the barriers are removed.

Natalie Allen from Sweet Things, also in Regent's Park Road, said: "If we have none of the streateries a lot of us will close. Since we've had that it's keeping our businesses alive."

Reenie's in Erskine Road have decorated their barriers but say they understand retailer and resident anger, particularly with empty spaces that could be used for parking, such as Manna next door (Image: Nathalie Raffray)

Reenie, of Reenie's icecream parlour in Erskine Road, said she was "delighted" with the streateries but were willing to be flexible.

Her husband Matt Storey said: "As residents we hate it but purely from a business perspective it's been great." 

Resident Jos Veron described the barriers as "not beautiful" and the legality "dubious to say the least".

He added: "As time goes on and the Covid period goes away you'd think the barriers would be taken away but instead the council actually want us to adopt their mutant child and make it into a permanent thing."

Gerard Levy, of Spice Shoes, says many retailers are feeling a loss of sales from barriers placed in Primrose Hill during Covid (Image: Nathalie Raffray)

Gerard Levy, owner of Spice Shoes, has seen his business slow. He said: "We've been here 38 years. The area is a bit of a bubble, it's quite unique, it's quite special, so when they do things like this it actually destroys it. 

"What's happened here is just awful and it's dividing people.

"The council have a concept of streateries which they see as a great success but they do not see its impact on the ground." 

Adam Simmonds optician said: "Primrose Hill has gone from one of London's most beautiful streets and now looks uncared for and unloved, which is so unfair.

"It should be preserved and the council should love this but the fact they don't shows their priorities."

Neighbour Andrew Blanck added: "Camden is choking small businesses round here. 

"We've got the cleanest air of anyone in London being close to the parks. This is not the place to do environmental action, they're choking us."

Natale Tedeseo, of Primo Deli in Primrose Hill village is 'struggling' as parking spaces are lost in the high street which is impacting his business (Image: Nathalie Raffray)

Cllr Adam Harrison, the council's cabinet member for a sustainable Camden, said: “Creating streateries is one way of the ways we are supporting hospitality businesses to thrive following the pandemic.

"Outside seating encourages visitors to our high streets, thereby supporting all local businesses, and helps support the 'village' nature of the area that so many people cherish.

“When we asked local people what they think of the trial through our consultation, most said they supported this streatery and the parking changes that are necessary to make the streatery happen.

"However, we are still trialling this scheme and are continually reviewing the feedback we receive to make changes where needed.

"Changes in the future will include upgrading the look of the streatery to replace the red and white barriers."