New traffic restrictions on Portobello Road, installed on the advice of counter-terror police, have drawn criticism from market traders, residents, and tourists who say the concrete blocks and red barriers are an eyesore and a hindrance. The measures, which ban cars between 10am and 4pm on certain days, were erected on 1 July to prevent potential vehicle attacks.
Tourists visiting the famous blue door from the film Notting Hill said the barriers detract from the area's charm. Katie Alasky, 44, a lawyer from New Orleans, described the blocks as 'a sign of how we live now'. James Darcy, 33, from Melbourne, said the restrictions would make filming the movie today 'not the same'.
Market traders report significant financial losses. Charlotte Preval-Reed, 47, who sells prints, said footfall had plummeted and trading was '100% the worst' since Covid. She warned she might have to close her business if the measures continue. Others have struggled to restock stalls because vehicles cannot access the street before 4pm.
Local resident Patrick Somers, 65, is leading a legal challenge against Kensington and Chelsea council. He claims the restrictions were imposed with little notice and could endanger lives. Somers said an ambulance recently could not reach a child with respiratory problems, forcing paramedics to carry equipment on foot. The council insists emergency services were consulted and can still access the road.
The barriers have also frustrated residents who cannot drive out of side streets during restricted hours. Somers said his family would have been unable to visit his dying mother-in-law if the rules had been in place earlier. The council has defended the scheme as necessary for public safety.
