Portobello Road is set to undergo a major rejuvenation project, but locals say the community is underpinned by a fear of change.
While the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea council have pre-existing aims for the area – namely improvements to flood mitigation, transport flow and greening – no decisions have yet been finalised.
In an attempt to reflect the interests of the community, a panel of local voices from residents, businesses and traders has been recruited to help inform a consultation on modifications to the Portobello Road.
But with the year-long engagement process underway, residents have expressed ‘heavy mistrust’ in the council’s activities following the Grenfell tragedy.
Ruth Odusanya Daniel, who is one of the panellists and lives close by to the world-renowned market, said: “There’s definitely a sense of huge fear in the community and worry over what the council is hiding.
“I hope this project can help to repair the relationship with the council and that transparency over plans will stop people feeling insecure,” she added.
“Ever since the Grenfell fire people have held an anger because they didn’t help enough and this paranoia is impacting peoples mental health.”
Lead Member Cllr Elizabeth Campbell said that the council understands that ‘rebuilding trust takes time’.
She added: “We have been set the challenge to become the best council for our communities by the bereaved and survivors of the Grenfell tragedy and have been working with our residents over the last year to understand what this means to them.”
The body is investing in the area to ensure the famous street market continues to serve the day-to-day needs of residents while attracting visitors from across the country and the world.
Portobello and Golborne Road Market can see over 80,000 visitors on a single Saturday and traders have shared that despite their fear of change the road is crying out for improvements to accommodate the heavy footfall.
Charlie Barnett, 69, owns an antique store inside the Vernon arcade and claims he was robbed a few months back: “Safety is the biggest issue that needs addressing, there’s always been a pickpocketing problem but whether you live or work on the road we all deserve to feel a little more secure.”
“Tens of thousands of people come to the market and everyone is welcome, we want to keep it that way.
“Portobello Road is a worldwide bit of culture and any plans made to keep it running smoothly are important.”
Other traders expressed hope that the plans include more space to park their produce vans, better organisation of merchants and a clean-up of graffiti.
Cheryl Devlin, the fifth-generation owner of Devlin’s Fruit and Veg stall, said: “It would be great if it could be made to look a little prettier, some trees or something would clean the area right up.
“But I think the priority should be working out a new system for the market so that it’s better organised.
“Clothes all in one place and hot food in another so that we don’t get the smells wafting over our fresh produce and it’s easier for customers.”
Cllr Campbell added: “People want to be involved from the outset in decisions that affect them and we agree that local people know what their communities need.
“We put residents at the heart of many projects and are pleased that residents want to work with us and hold us to account.
“From helping us design new standards for all Council staff to resident membership of the new Portobello Engagement Oversight Panel – we are working together for the sake of our communities.”
The period of consultation for the project will end in Spring 2024, with plans for the road to be drawn up by this time.
