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Lee Rickler |
Traders threaten parking demo
ARCHWAY shopkeepers, struggling to survive during the recession, are threatening to take to the streets in an effort to scrap weekend parking controls.
The idea comes from businessman and professional web designer Lee Rickler, who has launched a new Save Archway campaign.
“One of the biggest obstacles stopping people shopping in Archway are the insane parking controls,” he said.
“I’m proposing that, unless Islington Council agrees to remove these restrictions from 6pm Friday until Monday morning, then the traders should take action. Closing their shops and businesses on a specific day and time to protest in Junction Road would be one way of getting the message across.”
Several shopkeepers have expressed support for the action.
Mr Rickler is planning to give Archway town centre an online presence, and to launch a business-to-business network for the area.
His other proposals to save the town centre are:
• Set up help or information centres for local businesses in empty premises.
• Convert an empty property into an art gallery for schoolchildren or youth groups.
• Use offenders on community service to clean up litter-strewn areas and forgotten paths and alleys.
• Move Archway market to Archway Mall.
• Use an empty property for a once-a-week swap shop.
• Get landlords and owners to paint exterior hoardings on empty properties.
• Hold a summer mini-festival with a local theme.
Mr Rickler, 46, married with three children, said: “I’ve watched Archway decline for too long. I’d like to see monthly meetings with small businesses in a local pub or hall. We must do something to stop the rot.
“For example, we’ve got plenty of cafés, but we need a better variety of shops and businesses. Unless we get shops that people want they won’t come.”
Market organiser Stephanie Smith, a member of the Town Centre Management Group, said: “We are talking to Islington Council about the Saturday parking. They’ve told us if they reduce restrictions for us they must do it throughout the borough. They will have to consult and it will be a long process. But they haven’t said no.”
Chris Roche, former chairman of Junction Road Residents and Traders Association, supported Mr Rickler’s proposals. “It’s a long time since the businesses of Archway had proper representation,” he said.
“We have the Better Archway Forum, which in my opinion has been unable to deliver on the plan to improve the town centre. Businesses are suffering as a consequence of inaction to improve and regenerate the area.” |
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