Regulars outside the MatchBox Cafe 

THERE were victories and losses for residents and business owners in South End Green this week after fresh plans have finally emerged for a streatery.

After months of consultation the council has agreed to closing the slip road at South End Road, in order to enable a “streatery” to operate there.

The number 1 bus – formerly the 168 – will stand at South End Close where the 24 bus currently stands and the 24 will be moved to stand at the top end of Fleet Road, where parking bays will be removed to make room.

Residents in Fleet Road will have as many as three buses standing at one time in front of their properties.

But original proposals, which went out to public consultation between September 12 and to October 9 made no mention of moving the bus stand to Fleet Road. Now residents saying they were not consulted on this aspect of the proposals are concerned about its negative effects.

Hugo Dring who lives in Fleet Road with his family, said: “The whole process is so disappointing. We weren’t consulted, there’s been no notification, no letters.

“The consultation they have done is with people who don’t even live in the area and it’s coincidental that no one on Fleet Road has had a chance to disagree and we’re getting all the negative impacts.

“I’m really concerned about my kids’ safety, not only air pollution and noise but the barrier of cars protects the kids from running out into the road, if that ever were to happen. If and when this goes ahead it’s just an accident waiting to happen.”

Paula Felgate, another resident, said: “A lot of people have their bedrooms on the side of the road. The moment you have a 24-hour bus there we’re going to have 24-hour noise, it’s not sustainable.

“This is one of the most undemocratic things that we’ve ever come across. We were not notified properly of the plans. So more importantly than anything else, we were not consulted and we were not given a voice at all. “We have no idea what this is going to do to property values for us, it’s just ridiculous.

“What we want to happen is we want to be consulted, we want our democratic right back and second of all we do not want buses on Fleet Road at all. It needs to stay the same as it is right now. “Camden has been trying to sneak these plans through the whole time.”

Residents of Fleet Road will buses on the stand in front of their properties

Renata Giacobazzi, who has owned Giacobazzi’s Delicatessen in Fleet Road since 1991, said she is concerned about how her shop will continue to operate with deliveries when the Fleet Road plans come into place.

She said: “Even people who aren’t on Fleet Road are shocked. The loading bays will all be removed. I have no idea how our drivers are going to get in.”

The council was treating people like fools, she said, adding: “We’re being treated as if anything can be dumped on us. It’s always been like that and it’s not good for community relations.”

Pat Newby, another Fleet Road resident who has been involved in plans to change the South End Green area for 20 years, said: “It’s not an option to fight off the buses, it’s survival. Living with a bus stand opposite on such a narrow, busy road is quite simply intolerable.

“Back in 2005, when the first attempt to move a bus stand here was made, I was told by the then secretary of the South End Green Association that these houses on Fleet Road aren’t very nice anyway so it didn’t matter if there was a bus stand here. I think that attitude still pertains as we are treated with total disrespect by local groups in Hampstead Town ward who want to clear the Green of buses for social activities and by the council.

“I have no objection to streateries but this road is definitely not a suitable location to dump a 24/7 bus stand. There have been two trials already and Camden knows it doesn’t work.”

However, while the fresh plans were not good news for Fleet Road residents, they were warmly welcomed by Milko Kolar who owns the Matchbox Cafe in South End Close.

He spoke to the New Journal in June about his concerns that the streatery plans to create a large bus stand and cut the pavement space in front of his business would negatively affect his business.

But the council plans were subsequently changed to relocate the 24 bus stand in Fleet Road meaning he could operate his business in the same way as before.

He said: “I cannot express how thankful I am of the council’s efforts. Listening to me and taking on my advice. The fact I can keep the pavement space in front of my business makes me so pleased.

“Matchbox Cafe can now stay open and continue to be the friendly, neighbourhood cafe that it is. I would like to also thank our community and my customers for their efforts to support my business, showing their support. I’ve been here for nine years and I hope to be for many more.”

Cabinet councillor Adam Harrison said: “The relocation of the bus stand will take place on a trial basis during which time we will be able to see how it works and listen to responses from local residents and businesses.

“It’s important to work with TfL to ensure our vital bus service is able to run effectively, which means finding locations for bus infrastructure such as bus stands. The original proposal did not prove feasible in terms of the bus service, and so we are looking to test this arrangement.

“The current bus stand area on South End Green takes up space that could be better used for people to enjoy, bringing more people to this important local neighbourhood centre as part of Camden Council’s focus on supporting our high streets across the borough.”