Johnny Gumb

ISLINGTON Council has announced a series of traffic changes around Camden Passage.

The iconic shopping street is set to have new trees and flower beds planted, a new pedestrian crossing as well as new cycle stands and pedestrian areas being introduced.

But in Charlton Place a traffic restriction between 8.15am-9.15am and 3pm-3.45pm will prevent vehicles from driving on the street from its junction with Colebrooke Row, and a new cycle route, a permanent loading bay for businesses, and restrictive access for heavy vehicles will be introduced.

Traders are unhappy with the council discouraging cars in the area and reducing the amount of parking space.

Camden Passage

Johnny Gumb, who has lived and traded on Camden Passage for decades, is concerned that reduced parking space will mean no longer being able to park on Charlton Place and bring his goods to his stall.

“I appreciate that they’re trying to make the whole area more pedestrian and cycle friendly, they don’t want cars and they don’t want vans, but this is life. We’ve got to have vans if we’re going to be commercial and make sense of the area. You can’t just say everything has got to be lovely clean air for pedestrians and cyclists. It’s very nice, but the area would die if that was the case,” he said.

Islington’s environment chief Councillor Rowena Champion said: “Local people and businesses are at the heart of everything we do, and we’re listening very carefully to their feedback throughout site visits, on-site workshops, and via our consultation. That’s why, following feedback from residents and businesses, we’ve chosen to introduce a timed traffic restriction – which is limited to one hour in the morning and 45 minutes in the afternoon – as opposed to the initially proposed full 24/7 traffic filter.”

She added: “We’re also introducing a permanent loading bay to give traders a dedicated space where they can receive deliveries, in response to feedback that such facility did not exist on Charlton Place. By making the area more pleasant and welcoming for all we can help attract local people and visitors to the area, creating additional footfall that local traders can benefit from.”