Borough Market traders are questioning plans to close a road through the market over terrorism fears – seven years after the 2017 London Bridge Attack.
Stoney Street was a site of horror that summer with Jihadis marauding down the cobbled route attacking innocent diners before being gunned down by armed police.
Following recommendations by counter-terrorism police, Southwark Council has set aside £900,000 permanently to close the street to traffic to stop any attackers using vehicles as weapons to run down civilians.
But some traders, along with local politicians, have challenged the plan over the impact it could have on businesses.
Labour-run Southwark Council has now said it will delay any decision-making until after a meeting with traders.
Cllr James McAsh, Cabinet Member for the Climate Emergency, Clean Air and Streets, said: “We have gone back to the community to seek their views on our proposals to permanently close Stoney Street to motorists. We look forward to reaching a decision that balances the needs of local people and businesses and strengthens security in the London Bridge area.”
Currently, Stoney Street is open to traffic, including delivery trucks, from around 2.30am to 9.30am, after which temporary concrete barriers are moved into the road.
But Southwark Council wants to install permanent barriers that would close the street 24/7, even to emergency vehicles.
Max Secci, owner of L’Ubriaco Drunk Cheese, who has sold from the iconic market for around fifteen years, says the closure would be “messy” for traders.
“If Stoney Street gets closed at night, we get a lot of our deliveries at night, so it’ll make it pretty much impossible for us,” he said.
“There are big trucks coming from Italy and other countries. it’s going to be messy.”
The terror attack still lives strong in traders’ memories, with Stoney Street the home of the Black and Blue bar, where civilian Roy Larner famously risked his life to fight off the terrorists.
But Max said shoppers aren’t at risk because temporary concrete barriers are put in place when the market is busiest.
“It’s pointless. There are bollards in the daytime anyway,” he said.
Lamor Hilton, a shopkeeper at Richard Haward’s Oysters, on Stoney Street, was also concerned by the proposals.
“In the nighttime, after hours, we have some deliveries come in and yeah we need it,” he said. “Otherwise, the car would have to park way back there and people will have to bring it by hand or in a trolley.”
Stefano Troiani, owner of From Field and Flower, a honey retailer, said the disruption to deliveries would impact “very negatively” on businesses.
Not all traders along Stoney Street are opposed the closure. Tom Ward, a shopkeeper at butchers The Ginger Pig, said the current situation of allowing motor traffic was “generally quite chaotic”.
Tom said: “I understand that, from the traders’ perspective they need to gain access for deliveries in the morning so maybe there can be a compromise.”
Police Counter Terrorism Safety Advisers have been adamant that permanent barriers should be installed.
Asked about the wider impacts of the closure, a Met Police spokesperson said: “We work closely with all communities across London to help protect against the threat of terrorism.”
Southwark Council conducted a consultation with traders in October 2022 but did not explicitly ask them whether they were for or against the Stoney Street closure.
However, the council’s research did show that, of the 50 businesses surveyed, 45 were reliant on motorised vehicles for deliveries.
Southwark Liberal Democrats, after discussions with Southwark’s Cabinet Member in charge of streets, Cllr James McAsh, claim to have persuaded the council to delay any decision making.
Liberal Democrat councillor for Borough and Bankside, David Watson, said: “Local residents and businesses are unanimously opposed to the permanent closure of Stoney Street.
“The current system of limited vehicle access for deliveries is the pragmatic approach. The more pressing issue is dangerous overcrowding around Borough Market and the Council should work urgently with the local community to find a solution.”
Jane Swift, Borough Market CEO said: “At Borough Market, the safety of our traders, customers and local community is of the utmost importance to us and we are currently in discussion with the council on this matter.”