Islington News: Traders and property sell off, Peter Gardner, Caledonian Road

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Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER
Published: 28 March 2008

From left: Labour councillor James Murray, Cosmo Cornelio and Peter Gardner

‘I can’t afford to buy, I can’t afford rent rise and I can’t afford to retire’

TRADERS hit by Islington’s latest property sell-off spoke out this week.
Butcher Peter Gardner remembers when his stretch of Caledonian Road was vibrant, teeming with shoppers attracted to its specialist outlets.
That was more than 20 years ago when he could probably have afforded to take out a mortgage to buy his shop.
But, as he points out, the premises were not up for sale in the late 1980s.
Now Mr Gardner, 61, has a choice – buy his premises from Islington Council or face the prospect of a developer acquiring the building and sending his rent soaring.
His is one of 15 businesses occupying council property in Caledonian Road.
He is the sole butcher left from a team of three who once worked in the shop.
“Most of us are too old and too hard up to consider buying our own shops,” he said.
“There are already many empty shops in the Cally and undoubtedly there will be more if this sale goes ahead.”
Men’s barber Cosmo Cornelio has had his shop in Caledonian Road, opposite Copenhagen Street, for 38 years.
“I can’t afford to buy my property and I can’t afford a rent rise,” he said.
“Trouble is I can’t afford to retire either.”

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