Customers come out to support Giocabazzi’s

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A DELICATESSEN owner says plans to “dump buses” outside will ruin her long-standing business.

Renata Giacobazzi, who has run Giacobazzi’s in Fleet Road for 33 years, said Camden’s plans to close a road in South End Green had awful knock-on effects.

The council is pushing ahead with its plan to close a slip-road for use as an al-fresco dining area, familiarly known as a “streatery”.

But to do this, a stand for the 24 hour bus will be moved to Fleet Road and existing parking bays will be ripped out.

Residents have already told the council that this will make their lives a misery, while Giacobazzi’s, famous for its fresh pasta and award-winning lasagne, has told customers it fears for its future because of the difficulty of getting deliveries in.

Ms Giacobazzi said: “Companies we deal with, we’ve been dealing with them for 30 years and they trust us. Customers who collect in little orders, who call up, park, run in and run out – that won’t be able to happen if the plans go ahead.”

She added: “I don’t want us to hold up traffic, not at all, but that is what will happen if the plans go ahead. We won’t be able to operate. I hate to be doom and gloom but it is the apocalypse of Fleet Road. At the moment it really feels like that and I’m really not trying to exaggerate.”

She added: “When we first opened the deli in 1991 it was so different. The work then was hard, but rewarding. I remember thinking, we’ll never do it. We’ll never make it but all of a sudden we did. And it’s because of this hard work. The thought that I may have to now sell up, because I am considering that, for such a sad reason like these streatery plans, makes me feel like what have I done with my life? It’s been pointless.”

After months of consultation the council has agreed to close the slip road at South End Road to enable a streatery to operate from next June. Ms Giacobazzi said her opinion had not been surveyed.

“I’m angry and worse. We weren’t properly consulted,” she said. “What’s the problem? Consult Fleet Road, talk to us and hopefully we’ll find a solution. I love the idea of fewer cars, who doesn’t? But it’s at a big cost and I don’t think it’s us who should pay.”

Ms Giacobazzi said she felt sorry for her residential neighbours. “I mean in a way we’re lucky. We’re a business. We can sell up and no matter how sad that makes me, I think of all these people with kids who go to school in the area. This will destroy Fleet Road.

“People will move out. You can’t bring up a family when you’ve got a row of buses outside your door. I think the council just need to think.”

The changes will be in place as an 18 month trial and businesses in South End Green have welcomed the space for outdoor dining.

A Camden Council spokesperson said: “Supporting local businesses is at the heart of our work to improve Camden’s high streets. As part of the 18-month trial scheme, parking spaces near Giacobazzi’s Deli will be replaced with double yellow lines that permit loading at any time, while also keeping the kerbside clear of parked cars.

“The initial consultation was shared with residents and local businesses in the area, and we strongly welcome their views or queries throughout the trial when it commences.”