Kingston riverside is “too narrow” to add street vendors, residents’ groups say
Local resident associations have criticised Kingston Council over recent changes to street trading rules, which they fear will ruin Kingston’s riverside with overcrowding and litter.
Under the new rules, agreed by Kingston Council’s Licencing Committee on Tuesday 8 October, street vendors can now apply for trading licences along a roughly one kilometre stretch of the riverside – subject to approval by councillors.
Both the Riverside Residents’ Association and the Kingston Society, two of Kingston’s largest residents’ groups, said on Tuesday (15 October) that much of the riverbank is too narrow for street vendors to operate – and that bins are already not emptied frequently enough.
“Much of the riverbank is too narrow for vendors, risking overcrowding during peak summer footfall” said Mary Webb, Chair of the Riverside Residents’ Association. “Additionally, introducing vendors along Queen’s Promenade could undermine community volunteer efforts and spoil this tranquil path.”
Tony Lancaster, Chair of The Kingston Society, agreed. He said: “At least half [of the riverbank] is too narrow to accommodate vendors or is unsuitable in other ways. The footfall in summer is very high and the footpaths frequently overcrowded, and the litter overflowing and uncollected.”
Image: Residents’ associations fear the plans will spoil the “tranquil” riverside (Credit: Riverside Residents Association)
Resident associations ‘not approached by the council’ during consultation
Both groups said they were unaware of the changes and said the council should have reached out to them directly. Both consulted with their members over the weekend after we notified them of the new rules.
“We do not believe this was adequately consulted and the very small number of respondents supports this,” Lancaster added. “We believe direct approaches should have been made to The Kingston Society and other resident associations such as Riverside Residents Association and not rely on visitors to the Let’s Talk portal.”
Just 22 Kingston residents took part in the council’s consultation, with three providing written responses.
The new rules were supported by only 50% of those who took part in the council’s consultation. Some who opposed the plans stressed to the council that there is “simply no space for any additional street activity” and that congestion would be inevitable.
Fears were also raised about commercialisation detracting from the views of the river and “general peaceful nature of the area”.
Images: Around one kilometre of the riverside has been designated for street trading (Credit: RBK)
Well-managed street trading “adds variety and vibrancy” to riverside, says RBK boss
A report submitted to the Licensing Committee by Matthew Hill, The Royal Borough of Kingston’s (RBK) Assistant Director of Highways, Transport and Regulatory Services, urged councillors to approve the proposals after they received “limited objection” in the consultation.
Additionally, 82% and 64% of consultation respondents said removing Union Street and Church Street respectively from the list of designated street trading areas was a positive step.
On the changes in the report, Hill wrote:
“Well managed street trading adds variety and vibrancy to the local area, as well as creating employment opportunities and providing entrepreneurs with the opportunity to start new businesses. Street trading can support regeneration and vibrancy of areas, whilst enhancing the amenities available in those areas.”
In response to concerns raised in the consultation about overcrowding and street vendors detracting from views of the river, Hill said applications would still be subject to approval by the licensing committee and were by no means guaranteed.
Kingston Council has been approached for further comment.
Image: Volunteers from Queen’s Promenade Friends work to maintain the riverside (Credit: Riverside Residents Association)
The Kingston Society and Riverside Residents associations call on RBK to reconsider
Both residents’ associations have said they do not support the “broad-brush” approach the council has approved.
Instead, they have called on the council to only designate “suitable areas” for any new street vendor and only after a clear policy is established to effectively manage them.
Riverside Residents Association has also called for clarity on management costs and accountability – especially given what they describe as “ongoing issues” like overflowing bins in the summer.
The Kingston Society’s Lancaster said:
“It is a lazy and unproven assumption that street vendors will bring vibrancy and enliven the riverside.
“It is already a much used and loved space, but the proposal suggests that only market forces can determine what the community wants and needs from its precious public realm, and worse that enjoying the riverside is incomplete without a buying opportunity.”
