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Camden Passage traders Charlie Woodage and Patricia Baxter |
AXE FALLS ON MALL DEALERS
Anger and sorrow as antique traders are kicked out of market
UP to 40 traders are to be evicted from The Mall – Camden Passage’s jewel in the crown – virtually ending the unique reputation of the world famous antiques market.
After months of uncertainty and a petition with 600 names, the end came on Wednesday when the devastated traders all received hand-delivered notices to quit.
Property company London Associated Properties refused to say what it intends to do with The Mall, a Grade II-listed former tram shed. It is rumoured the building will be converted and eventually handed over to a large department store.
The antique traders have until July to move out.
The eviction comes as a personal blow to Islington’s Lib Dem council leader Councillor James Kempton. He reassured traders last year that “professional advice” indicated The Mall was safe under current conservation laws.
Cllr Kempton said: “I shall be seeking advice from the Government about this. I’m hoping we can save the antique traders – the life blood of our community – even at this late stage.”
Traders are particularly upset as more tourists and customers have been arriving from abroad since the opening of the nearby St Pancras International rail terminal.
Opposition Labour councillor Martin Klute accused the property company of using “bully boy” tactics to remove the antiques traders. But he was scathing of the Lib Dem-controlled council for not strengthening planning laws to protect Camden Passage as a unique retail centre.
He added: “The administration has been very weak. The message the council appear to be putting out to the developers is ‘It’s fine chaps. Just do what you like’.”
Labour will launch a last-minute appeal to Mayor Ken Livingstone to see if he can halt the evictions. But the thinking is that there is little he can do at this stage.
Trader Jan Van Den Bosch, who was evicted from the former Georgian Village antique market in the passage three years ago, said: “If they close the Mall then it’s the end of antiques in Camden Passage. I don’t believe the remaining shops will last.
“It will mean the foreign visitors will no longer come because it won’t be the same large, thriving market it once was.”
Glass dealer Esme Jones said: “It was such a shock, coming at the beginning of the year. We’ve been given no reason why we have to go. I’m really very upset. We were told by the council that we were safe because of the preservation status of the building. Now I don’t know what I’ll do.”
Patricia Baxter has had an antique furniture shop in the Mall for 17 years. “I’ve given many good years to The Mall. I don’t see why I should have to go. We are going to appeal to the owners to see sense. Surely they can’t do much with a listed building.”
Charlie Woodage, who has been there for 20 years, said: “I believe the closure of The Mall will finish Camden Passage. Serious dealers will not come any more.”
Mike Weedon, representing the traders on behalf of the Camden Passage Association, said: “I’m just appalled. The Mall has been an antiques centre for 25 years. It is a beautiful building and can’t be used for anything else.
“I appeal to Islington Council to show us a way to stop this legally. They have highly paid solicitors – they should be able to find a way of stopping it.”
Last month more than 20 traders were evicted from the nearby Angel Arcade, which is being converted into a modern furniture store.
The building, owned by Bush Investments, has been sold to furniture suppliers Lombok.
Traders estimate that the market has lost 200 small shops and outlets in the past eight years, involving many hundreds of jobs. The toll includes York Arcade; Gateway Arcade, now Foxtons estate agent; Central Gallery, now an empty shop, and the Georgian Village three years ago, which has become a clothing store. |
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