Islington Council parking plans could hurt Chapel Market

Islington's Chapel Market (Image: Archant)

A famous market could be under threat if planned parking changes go ahead, traders have claimed.

Chapel Market, in Islington, gets much of its weekend business from customers travelling by car from outside the borough, but plans to extend parking restrictions on Saturdays and Sundays could see them go elsewhere.

Islington Council is planning an overhaul of its controlled parking zones (CPZs) which would scrap free parking on Saturday afternoons from 1.30pm and all day Sunday in the Angel “B” zone.

Restrictions would run from 8.30am to 11pm every day to protect residents.

David Twydale, 58, who has worked on his fruit and veg stall since he was 12, said the move would be “another nail in the coffin” for small businesses which are already struggling.

“Things are very hard at the moment after the recession, people are cutting back still, I’ve never known it so quiet.

“We make a living but it’s not like it used to be.

“There’s not many Sunday markets open anymore. We’ve got a farmers’ market that brings a lot of people doing their weekly shop – that’s one of our main days of business.

“As local businesses we need people to come in from the outside as well. And they want to use their cars so they can take all their shopping.”

The council is running an online consultation on the plans, which would also see a five-and-a-half hour extension to restrictions at weekends in areas around the Emirates Stadium.

Cllr Claudia Webbe, Islington Council’s executive member for environment and transport, said she welcomed the views from traders.

“We are proposing changes to controlled parking zones because we need to protect parking for residents, who are unable to park in some areas because existing controls are not working. But at the same time we want to support local businesses and employment, and need to balance this against the parking needs of residents.”

Take part in the consultation at here.