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Anger as inspector seals fate of 'crude' Camden Passage
Peter Gruner23.02.09
A LANDMARK London market is to be closed after a planning inspector said it was "crude".
Camden Passage Mall will make way for a fashion giant targeting wealthy university students.
Campaigners have been fighting alongside councillors to save the 40-year-old arcade, saying it is of historical and local interest.
But a government planning inspector has dismissed this argument.
In a ruling against Islington council, the inspector said that handing the market over to the Jack Wills fashion chain would not harm the Angel conservation area.
He claimed that the mall's antique shops were "of a loose Victorian or Georgian style and are rather crudely executed", without any special interest or value, and said the mall gave no "richness of experience".
Although the antiques market has been there for 40 years, the inspector said that this "is not a significant historical event in understanding the special interest of the building".
Sarah Percy-Davis, of LAPADA, the association of art and antiques dealers, said: "It will be a big loss to London."
Campaigners said the closure of Camden Passage, which has housed 35 small antiques and art shops since 1979, would also damage the tourist trade. Mike Weedon, of the Camden Passage Association, said: "The mall was often regarded as the jewel in the crown of Camden Passage.
"This is a government inspector over-ruling the will of the people."
Islington council deputy leader Terry Stacy criticised the decision.
He said: "This was a spectacularly bad decision by Hazel Blears's government inspector. I'm shocked and appalled that he could walk in and dismiss this much-loved and unique arcade as being of no interest.
"The council fought as hard as we could to save the mall's antiques market, only to be over-ruled by the Government. It's bitterly disappointing."
Labour councillor Martin Klute, in the forefront of the campaign to save the mall, said he was disappointed that the inspector had not seen the arcade when it was occupied and full of life and colour.
"Instead the developers evicted the antique traders so that all the inspector could see when he visited the building was an empty shell. Is it any surprise he didn't think it was of interest?"
A petition to save the mall, signed by 600 customers, was delivered to Downing Street.
The inspector's ruling follows confirmation that London's oldest antique market, Antiquarius in Chelsea, is to close to make way for an outlet of American fashion chain Anthropologie.
Reader views (33)
London as a piss-pot for international wealthy university students. Every bloody working-class street market and arcade is being turned over for redevelopment by New Labour.
What remains of London`s history, tradition, culture and idiom have been effaced to an extent that real Londoners must wonder at the planet to which they have been transported (or deported)
Hazel, many of us love London the way it is (and was). Leave it alone.
Remember it was Charles Dickens, with his neo-American hatred of anything that smelled, sounded, etc. who was as responsible as anyone else for demolishing large bits of old London.
And the attitude remains. That wonderful Tudor manor house in Deptford, around since 1550, went in 1968.
London is a shrine. Save it.
I lead walking tours around London`s working-class street market precincts.
You can contact me at sandra_shevey@yahoo.com
- Sandra Shevey, London
Am I being cynical in wondering how many palms were greased in high places by big business to get this outcome?
They seem to have totally disregarded that it was the antiques market that began bringing tourists into the area and made it trendy and desirable in the first place.
And make no mistake, it's the market that still attracts the tourists with them having the added benefit of using local eataries whilst there.
Somehow, I just can't see a "fashion giant" being on everyones list of must see places on a visit to London.
- Colm, London, UK
The Inspector must be a really cool guy. Remember what they say "follow the money".
- Rich, Dallas, USA
What a snooty, arrogant, dismissive, unfair appraisal of Camden Passage Mall. But it is what we have come to expect of this government...the hell with what people want, WE know better.
- R M, London, UK
What has the country come to when bureaucrats from central government are making decisions about local street markets? The NHS, railways, education and police have all been gutted and rendered impotent in the name of centralised government. It's supposed to be "joined-up" but in reality it's laughably inept. My sympathies go out to local residents, but if only 600 can be bothered to sign a protest petition, maybe most are happy to hand over control of the neighbourhood to Gordon and the rest of the Crazy Gang. If you don't like it, for heaven's sake do something about it.
- Dave, London, UK
I am so sorry my "must go to" antique mall has closed. For the past 12 years I've spent several thousand pounds and many more dollars buying antiques in Islington. I always stayed at the Islington Hilton to be close by my favorite antique stores. I'm so lucky to have already purchased several Morecraft pieces, arts and crafts pewter and copper.
Now that the exchange rate has improved for the dollar, I was looking forward the acquiring more antiques. Too bad.
- Virginia Wenzel, Prescott USA
Camden Passage Mall is what gives London it's identity. Shouldn't the government inspector seek the view of the people over his own. Imagine closing down the arcade at this time of economic crisis. Instead of keeping the arcade so it can contribute to the economy & keep people employed, is the inspector happier to see families out of jobs & without food?
- Agnes, Malaysia
It's markets like this which give London a special feel, they are the grass roots of business. An attack is also being mounted on Antiquarius in the Kings Road. Something unique and interesting to be replaced by another piece of nothing.
- M Wilkinson, London UK
That's New Labour for you. Banish the past and replace it with some NEW eye-sore.
- Tony Islander, Herts
Good. One in the eye for pretentious hell hole Islington.
- Givenuphope, London
How sad.
Don't be surprised to read of the Inspector's "sudden" resignation or illness - caused by undisclosed "pocket money" from Jack Wills, perhaps? Surely the citizens and Council have legal recourse against such a decision.
- David, Kingston, Canada
The legacy and the future they have destroyed should be outlawed. Soon, our beautiful capital city will be nothing but chains everywhere you look. there will be no individuality and nothing will be unique. it willbe oxford street on every street. Im bored of going to other capital city for this reason, bar the architecture there is nothing unique about them anymore and I thought London was different. The villages within it have a sense of unique style that all who visit it can identify and discover everytime they visit.
To say the mall gave no "richness of experience" and at the same time to replace it with Jack wills is itself a huge mis carriage of justice, for a place that has always dared to be different. You are raping camden and in turn London and you should be ashamed.
- Hannah, london uk
Typical "We know better" New Labour activity. Never mind what the public actually want, YOU WILL OBEY!!!!!
- Stan, Bexley
A bad decision by a public "employee" I don't call them workers, as they have no idea what real work is.
- P Staker, London
What wealthy students?
- Jude, London, UK
In truth, this market has very little appeal to the local community. Overpriced jumble sale springs to mind when considering the area - literally a jumble sale. 50 quid for a battered pair of 1940s heels, £40 for a pair of cuff links, £300 for a pair of lamps - please. I can't care to remember the amount of foreign visitors I've had over who have asked about Camden Passage - upon finding out it was not actually in Camden there was little, to zero, interest in visiting it. Those that did were utterly disappointed. As for Terry Stacy - the guy jumps on any band wagon he can. I do agree that the market should have been inspected whilst the stalls were still still in situ. but to be honest it's absolutely no loss that it's gone. I don't buy the argument that it has historical interest, or is a cultural gem - it's a market that has had it's day.
- John, Islington
The colour and character of London is being torn apart. Locals and visitors love Camden Passage. It is vibrant, quirky, uniquely atmospheric and friendly. What an uplifting experience it is to spend time there. How anyone can favour yet another bland, anonymous, "development" beggars belief. It will destroy something that adds a special cultural flavour to the area, whilst treating those of us who know and love the market with a patronising disdain. A "government inspector" goes against the wishes of the people, one opinion against the majority. What a farce...what an utter disgrace.
- John, London
Working in camden passage the closure was no surprise. Many of the other arcades have gone the same way. All turned in to chain stores. The first major loss was the Georgian Village which the council did not try and save. Infact they didn't even bother to visit it during planning meetings. This was the thin end of the wedge for the area and gave the green light to prospective developers to go in and destroy this untouched part of London. However there is still a strong Antiques market and we will keep fighting.
- Lindsay, Islington
Well done, Inspector - that Mall is full of over-priced tat and should've been condemned years ago. Camden Passage's reputation is wholely undeserved, as the many thousands who have travelled miles specially to visit it only to be ripped off by pushy traders selling junk have found out. Us locals don't go near it.
- Phil, Islington
Gobsmacked ... how do we get on the petition? I cant believe anyone supports this apart from the developers.
- Mr C, N4
Carnaby Street suffered the same fate and far less people now visit as a consequence.
- Steve, London
Ah yes!!......The price of everything, and the value of nothing!........Sums Labour up at a stroke!
GERONIMO
- Geronimo, LONDON MIDDLESEX
Liz from London, Camden Passage is not actually in Camden, but in Islington, you you obviously have never trekked across London to this particular market!!!
- Paul Smith, London
Bet that inspector got a nice little earner.
- Charles, london
Who thought that the Tories were in the back pocket of big businesses? At least the Tories are honest about what they stand for.
This perverse Labour government is the most dishonest to date. Rich socialists destroying our society. When is the election.
- Frank, Home Counties, England. - ( Sick to death of the pandering Liberal-Lefties )
Islington Council can stop this in its tracks by refusing planning permission to build the new horror, And announce it now. Stop this thing dead now.
- Alex, Scotland
Many years ago this country was the pride of Europe and visitors from overseas would flock to such markets as Chelsea,Camden,Notting Hill and various other venues for the tradition of what they stood for.BUT now everything is being dictated from Brussels, and the way of life the UK once had is now very rapidly disappearing.....This country should stand together like we did in World War 2 and say ''enough is enough''.The existing Govt.put us into the EU against the wishes of us THE PEOPLE,now we are seeing just what type of a mess people in power can do without consulation.No matter what your Political Party this Country needs to return to the old fashion values that are true and tested,and which our forefathers fought real hard for to overcome tyranny,otherwise we will be dictated by EU Laws and worst of all GB will loose its identity.Lets wake up before it is toooo late
- Arthur, LONDON
Its amazing how one moron in a suit can be given the power to destroy 40 years of history. Some exchanging of brown paper bags has probably been afoot in the aforementioned passage, me thinks.
- Michael, London
Another clip board weilding robot mis-understands what the general public want. If this market was 'crude and of no significance' then the businesses there would have been forced to close years ago. However, a vibrant, charicterful area is now to be lost to a shinny new retailer. Maybe a Starbucks will open and the planner can sit with his clipboard and not even know what continent he is on, thanks to the blandness of his vision.
- Ben, W1, London
Camden is being ruined by these central government idiots. Plenty of people (me included) trek across London to visit its unique range of stall and shops.
Who would bother doing that to visit yet another boring chain store?
- Liz, London
I would have thought Camden Passage and market would offer a much richer experience than Jack Wills, which is just another chain with no local variety.
- Matthew, london
Is this inspector yet another US graduate with NO experience? Why is every single person in authority hellbent on destroying/removing everything that stands for English tradition?
- Marianne, SW France
Another sad day for London. However I am not surprised; the current group of amateurs sitting in No. 10 seem intent on a plan to destroy every facet of Britain's heritage until the country becomes one big faceless shopping mall.
- Casper Slides, France at the moment
