Concerned residents and business owners who want the streateries along Regent’s Park Road removed standing next to a car that has parked in one of the empty streateries

ROADSIDE dining has made Primrose Hill look like a“shanty town” and driven away customers, residents and businesses claimed this week.

Camden Council set up a “streatery” in Regent’s Park Road to support hospitality business trying to recover from the Covid disruption and rules which restricted indoor restaurant meals.

This saw the removal of car parking spaces and the introduction of tables and chairs next to food-serving businesses along the road.

These remain fenced off for al-fresco dining beyond the lockdown crisis.

But a dissatisfied group of locals and shop owners said the “building site” barriers demarcating the streateries are an “eyesore”, a magnet for rubbish and drive customers away from independent businesses.

They are now calling on the council to review which streateries are being used.

Resident Diane Ray said: “They’re turning what was a very pretty village into a shanty town with all these awful bays.

“The restaurants love it because they’re getting more customers and can make more money, but it’s all a bit one-sided because it’s against the shops.”

Pamela Shiffer, owner of clothes shop Pamela

She added: “The butchers have already closed – I have to get into the car to go to the butchers, the nearest one now is in England’s Lane.”

Patricia Newmark, owner of the Fitzroy’s flower shop, told the New Journal that she has lost a lot of customers who used to drive to her shop. Twenty-three parking spaces have been re­moved for the streateries and the “nearest parking is in Hampstead”.

“It’s disgusting looking like this – but if it was pretty we still wouldn’t want it,” she said, adding: “We must have our car spaces back. A lot of the independents like myself, we will go and all they’ll be left with are the tables and chairs in the street for coffees. It doesn’t make sense.”

Meanwhile, Nico Hindcare, owner of hairdressers Shades Hair Studio, said: “A lot of my clients are coming from far away – Heathrow, West Ham, Hertfordshire – and most people out there do drive.

“They can’t find parking and that’s central London for you but it’s even harder now that businesses are taking up the space, especially the businesses that are not even using it.

“There’s not an inch of space in this city that we can afford to just waste.”

Aesthetics Lab co-owner Kristina Hutchins said the streatery outside her shop is never used by the café next door.

“The footfall has reduced and obviously business has reduced and also they sent someone from Camden last summer to come to each individual business to talk to us about it.” she said.

“I said it’s been here for two years and it’s never been used. Do you want it removed? We said yes. “And she went to the café and they said we don’t want it and still nothing was done.”

Pamela Shiffer, owner of clothes shop Pamela, added: “It’s unfair really that they [cafés] have the opportunity to triple what they’re taking and we’re paying our rates and getting nothing out of it.”

Patricia Newmark, owner of Fitzroy’s flower shop, and her son Andrew Blank

A similar dispute has previously played out in Belsize Park where opinions contrasted sharply among some residents about a “streatery” in Belsize Square.

The measure has also been used in South End Green and Broadhurst Gardens, West Hampstead. Last year, the government relaxed legislation on where they can be located.

Café owner says scheme has been a vital support

NOT everybody is standing against the “streatery” in Regent’s Park Road, writes Frankie Lister-Fell.

Natalie Allen, owner of Sweet Things, said the fenced-off areas were the difference between her deciding to renew and end her lease.

Ms Allen (pictured above) said: “It’s really, really helped the business because costs have increased so much. We’ve got more competition coming soon, there will be two more cafés and there’s only so much business to go around. “[The streateries] seem to bring more people to the area. A lot more people are walking and getting public transport than ever before. I don’t see a big issue losing a few parking spaces.”

Ms Allen agreed there could still be some improvements, however, adding: “We want to make it look nicer and have approached the council numerous times about it but you don’t really get anywhere.”

She added that a review should be undertaken to remove the streateries that aren’t used or to look at closing them during winter.

A Camden Council spokesperson said: “Creating streateries is one of the ways we are supporting hospitality businesses to thrive following the pandemic, as well as encourage more visitors to our high streets to support all local businesses.

“During the consultation period, the majority of responses supported this streatery and the parking changes, however we are still trialling this scheme and are continually reviewing feedback we receive to make changes where needed, including looking at ways to upgrade the look of the streatery.”

EMAIL US YOUR LETTERS ON THE PRIMROSE HILL STREATERY: letters@camdennewjournal.co.uk