Outrage at plans to "sell off Portobello's soul" (Kensington and Chelsea Liberal Democrats)

Kensington and Chelsea Liberal Democrats <info@kensingtonandchelsealibdems.org.uk>

Outrage at plans to "sell off Portobello's soul"

August 13, 2007 11:23 AM

Woolworths sign PETITION TO SAVE SHOPS THAT LOCAL PEOPLE ACTUALLY USE... COUNCILLORS "SLEEPWALKING TO DISASTER"... WOOLWORTHS TO BE TURNED INTO LUXURY GATED FLATS

Portobello Road and its surrounding streets are the subject of frenzied speculation by three 'Super Landlords' who want to tear down homes and businesses to make room for luxury gated communities and retail outlets.

The Lib Dems can exclusively reveal that the most ambitious plan concerns the Portobello Road branch of Woolworths, which now faces closure. The shop is leased from UK Investments, one of the Super Landlords.

Lib Dem Campaigner Lee Clements said: "There has been a Woolworths on this site since 1928. UK Investments want to build luxury flats on the site with retail outlets on the ground floor."

But local Lib Dem Carol Caruana points out that Woolworths sells items that local families need.

Lee outside Woolworths

"For example," she says, "Woolies still sell school uniforms for as little as £3 a skirt. Why should local people be deprived of a shop they actually use to make room for a gated community that will kill the area?

"And why come and live in Portobello Road if you want to be gated off from the rest of us?"

UK Investments acquired the neighbouring shops to Woolworths in the 1990s, and have so far bought two further properties on the Portobello Road in the last 5 years.

"If UK Investments and the other 'super-landlords' get their way, the effect on the character of Portobello will be devastating," says Carol.

The Lib Dems have formally welcomed a recent report from the Commission for Retail Conservation which looked into ways of protecting neighbourhood shopping but say it does not go far enough.

"We call upon the Council to implement immediately the Commission's recommendation that Portobello Road should be designated a 'special district', to which a dedicated set of planning policies will be applied." But Carol says that this will only scratch the surface of what is really required and points to two problems:

"Firstly, the Commission looked at commercial planning but we are concerned that the Super-Landlords may get around any new rules by switching their plans to luxury flats. Gated communities do not belong on the Portobello Road and we will fight them."

Carol Caruana

But by far the biggest problem, according to the Lib Dems, is that by the time a planning application goes before the Council, it is usually too late to save the existing business or home.

"All the Super-Landlords have to do is hike the rent up at the end of a lease to force people out," says Carol. "So, yes, maybe new planning policy could prevent buildings being torn down and redeveloped but that would come much too late to save the people who have just been thrown out!"

The Lib Dems point out that the local Labour councillors have been completely silent on this. "The Council is sleepwalking to disaster if they think that introducing new planning policies is going to stop the Super-Landlords from destroying the character of this area," says Carol.

The Lib Dems are now taking the fight directly to the Super-Landlords and have put them on notice.

"The first step," says Carol, "is the petition. We would encourage all readers to return the petition as soon as possible so we can show the Super-Landlords proof that the local population will not tolerate their plans to sell off Portobello's soul."