Camden Passage

THE owner of the Camden Passage antiques market has warned Islington’s traffic policies could spell the end for the world-famous businesses.

Karen Murdoch, the daughter of the market’s founder, said a timed road restriction in the morning and afternoon had left traders “stranded” at the times they were usually setting up or packing up.

“That market doesn’t do well at the best of times. Wednesday [has become] quite disastrous,” she said. “In the good old days, the dealers would come on a Wednesday and do lots of trade. People aren’t spending at the moment, and you want to do everything to encourage business, not detract from it.”

The Town Hall is trialling the timed traffic restriction for 18 months, but by that time, Ms Murdoch said “the damage will be done”.

She said: “It’s a great tourist attraction – if the shops go and the markets go, then the tourists go. We’re known all over the world. It’s a wonderful place to go, and in our antique shops, you get things there you wouldn’t find anywhere else and at a reasonable price.”

Work in Charlton Place

Ms Murdoch’s father founded the Passage markets in the 1950s, gradually turning it into a mecca for antique shopping.

“It’s my father’s legacy, and they’re extremely good dealers – the people at the stalls are dedicated. I want to carry on my father’s dream of it – it’s vastly changed now, but so has the world,” she said.

“I do feel that my father just worked tirelessly to create it – and I just feel that the council, in their stupidity, are wiping that out in a couple of weeks.

“They haven’t taken on board anything about the area and there is nothing to commend what they’re doing now. If the council wants to spend money on Camden Passage, they could install CCTV or have more police there.”

Karen Murdoch

Islington environment chief Councillor Rowena Champion said the trial was aimed at making streets less polluted and more “pleasant” for local people.

She said: “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. This will help ensure that businesses are able to make deliveries. ”

Cllr Champion 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 a 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. These changes are supported by many businesses on the Passage, and we’re looking forward to seeing the benefits that they bring.”