Here’s what Londoners have to say about this iconic shopping street banning cars

A plan to turn a famous London shopping district into a pedestrian zone has been branded as a ‘massive opportunity’ for the area.

Camden High Street, known for its market, independent shops and cool atmosphere, could soon look very different after the pedestrianisation plan was confirmed last week.

The move could help restore Camden High Street to its former glory, one small business owner told Metro during a visit to Camden Town, while a long-term resident said the scheme will only please tourists.

Camden Council said the pedestrianisation trial will create ‘a safer, healthier and more enjoyable Camden High Street,’ which attracts 40,000 people at peak times.

But what do people think of it now that the plan will become a reality?

Alison Charlton, a resident on Arlington Road for 30 years, said she has seen the area change – and not for the best.

She said she didn’t support banning traffic as ‘it will be a mess and cause trouble on nearby roads.’

‘Why is the council doing it? They haven’t thought about residents, but only tourists,’ she said, adding that she is concerned for older people having to walk further to catch a bus.

Jake Morris, the owner of Damson Madder and a Camden resident, said ‘it’s a good idea’ and it would put ‘outside retail in a better place.’ However, he said he worried about transport, but if they can find a solution, ‘then it sounds okay.’

Finn Brewster Doherty, who runs the Camden Open Air Gallery and also lives on the high street, said the change would ‘act as a catalyst to put Camden back on the map.’

‘Camden has become a bit of a cliche of itself,’ he said. ‘What people think of Camden isn’t Camden anymore. It’s just tourist stuff and there’s a lot of illicit behaviour on the street. It doesn’t attract Londoners at all and I don’t think Londoners come to Camden.’

He said the pedestrianisation should be used as an opportunity to bring ‘small business back on the high street’ and focus should be on ‘cleaning up Camden.’

‘We want to make Camden a hotspot again,’ he said.

‘It’s a massive opportunity for Camden – it’s the first time in the last 20 years to get rid of all the anti-social behaviour and the dodgy activities and do something better with it.’

At the Elephants Head pub, located by the famous rainbow crossings where the pedestrian zone would end, the mood was carefully optimistic.

Benedict Milmer, a pub supervisor from Kentish Town, said pedestrianisation would improve safety on the road where he said he has witnessed countless near-misses between tourists and cars at the rainbow crossings where visitors take pictures ‘without looking at the traffic lights.’

He said the closure would have to be ‘based on how the businesses operate’ as some lack rear and cellar access and are further away from the proposed delivery and portering spots.

A part-time traffic ban from around 7am until 2am would work better for deliveries and ‘solve the problem of it being just a big honeytrap of tourists’, he said.

‘It’d be definitely good for the atmosphere. It would be quite nice for us during the daytime, and depending on how it’d work, we could get tables outside. But ultimately, it’s about safety,’ he added.

Torrente Lopez, the co-owner of TMC Camden tattoo parlour who lives in Finsbury Park, told Metro the weekend crowds have practically ‘closed the road already’ to traffic. He said the Camden Town Tube station often becomes crowded, forcing it to close. This has forced him to rely on the buses or his car to get to work.

‘The pedestrianisation can be worse for the Tube and worse for the local roads,’ he said, adding that there should be more parking and that ‘closing the road is not a solution.’

William Worthington and Elliott Oates, from Battersea, were supportive of the plan. William, who works nearby, said it would make the area ‘more enjoyable,’ while Elliot said ‘less cars is better.’

A delivery truck driver on Jamestown Road, who asked not to be named, said the pedestrianisation and loading bays on side streets could make deliveries easier.

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