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Tony Bowden with Conservative parliamentary candidate Antonia Cox |
‘Planners told me that foodie street is full up’
Shopkeeper says he was warned there were already too many cafés in area
A SHOPKEEPER whose family have lived in Finsbury for almost half a century has blamed Town Hall red tape for “killing off” small businesses.
Tony Bowden, 29, is seeking planning permission to turn his former clothes shop in Whitecross Street into a deli and café. But he claims planners have told him he is unlikely to succeed because there are already too many cafés in the street.
A butchers or greengrocers would probably get permission, Mr Bowden says he has been told. But he has seen these kinds of businesses open and close in the street.
Now the trader is seeking the support of Antonia Cox, Conservative parliamentary candidate for Islington South and Finsbury. She believes the council is “forcing its ideas” on the market instead of allowing it to develop naturally.
Born and bred in the borough, Mr Bowden, from Islington Park Street, believes the council’s “protectionist” policies are unfair. He claims there are fewer restrictions in Hackney and Camden.
The Whitecross Street clothes shop, Mary Jane, is named after his grandmother, who retired last month. “There is no market for clothes any more in Whitecross Street,” he said. “The street is turning into a foodie area and that’s where my future lies.
“To be told there are too many eating-out establishments is mad. They didn’t say there are too many curry restaurants in Brick Lane or too many antiques shops in Portobello Road.”
Ten years ago Whitecross Street was a thriving market with stalls. Then a supermarket moved in at the Barbican end, although the Bowden shop at the Old Street end managed to survive.
Today, the market, which stretches along the lower half of the street, is thriving again, mainly thanks to the proliferation of stalls selling take-away food from all over the world.
Mr Bowden said: “I want to employ people and provide good home-cooked food. It’s me who is taking the risk, it’s my money, not Islington Council’s. They can’t artificially try and control trade. It’s not what anyone wants.”
Ms Cox was surprised that, instead of helping Mr Bowden get his business off the ground, it was putting obstacles in his way during a recession. “I’m suggesting that Tony contacts a planning consultant on a no-fee, no-win basis,” she said. “The council should justify this ban on providing eating-out establishments.”
A spokesperson for Islington Council said: “Like every borough, we have policies to protect the character of our streets and make sure there’s a healthy mix of businesses and services. These policies always reflect the wishes of local people – and it has been decided that more cafés wouldn’t be good in the long-term for Whitecross Street. Of course, our planning department is always willing to discuss this in detail with applicants.” |
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