Latest news with #PatrickSomers
The Sun
31-07-2025
- The Sun
We live on street made famous by Hollywood films & TV shows – but we're trapped in our homes due to thoughtless council
RESIDENTS who live on a famous street thanks to it featuring in Hollywood films and TV shows say they are trapped in their homes due to a thoughtless council. Portobello Road in West London is also well-known thanks to its markets which attracts visitors from far afield all year round. 4 4 Locals in the area say though that they feel 'trapped in their homes' due to the terror curbs that have been implemented. It comes after the road underwent significant renovation which saw a number of improvements made to the area. A legal challenge is being launched by residents and traders over the anti-terrorism measures which prevent vehicles from gaining access during the day. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, which oversees the market, erected barriers and implemented traffic restrictions due to fears of vehicles being driven into pedestrians. The vehicle ban is in operation between 10am and 4pm for either three or seven days a week, depending on the section, and this has given rise to concerns by residents that they won't be able to leave or that emergency services, deliveries or taxis won't be able to reach them. Patrick Somers, who lives in Portobello Mews, said residents only found out about the restrictions just a few days before they were implemented on July 1. Mr Somers is now leading a legal challenge by residents and local traders against the council's decision. He told The Times: 'We absolutely support anti-terror measures. Who wouldn't? We want to protect people. We want to protect ourselves. We want people to visit this lovely area. 'But you've got to balance it, because if you talk to the police or a risk consultant, they'll say, 'don't go out, lock yourselves in and you'll be fine'. "But most people can't live that way — and with that approach, the terrorists win as well.' Our famous London road will go through a big change... we're overrun by tourists and need help but we like it how it is Although the barriers are meant to open for emergency services, Mr Somers alleged that when a resident called for an ambulance for a young child who was having difficulty breathing, paramedics had to park beyond the barriers and carry their kit in. He added: 'It doesn't matter if you would like to get to the airport or get to the hospital appointment or you have an emergency or whatever. It's banned to all traffic. 'No taxis can come between ten and four o'clock, between three and seven days a week. That has in effect trapped people in their homes.' The council has said it had consulted with emergency services to ensure their vehicles could get through. Antiques dealer Geoff Knowles told the paper the council had advised traders they could arrive before 10am and leave after 4pm, but he added that was not how many traders operated. He said that the majority of traders that operated on Westbourne Grove usually got there at around 5-6am on a Saturday and then normally left about 1-2pm, making the new restrictions 'a bit of a pain'. He added that some traders needed to park near their stalls or had to go out to restock during the day. Mr Knowles said that a fruit and veg stall holder would maybe turn up with tons of potatoes and carrots and would need to park near his stall; they wouldn't be able to drag a sack of potatoes 300 yards every time he sold out of them. A Kensington and Chelsea council spokesperson said the measures had been implemented following advice from the Metropolitan Police's counterterrorism security adviser. They added the council had set up new blue badge bays and drop-off areas along the side streets and that blue badge holders in the closed sections could enter and leave. The spokesperson said: 'Our top priority remains the safety and wellbeing of everyone in the community and we believe the current measures strike a reasonable balance between protecting the public and supporting the needs of individuals. 'The temporary Anti-Terrorism Traffic Regulation Order on Portobello Road was introduced to protect residents, traders and visitors from the potential threat of vehicle attacks during busy trading periods, following advice from counter-terrorism police. 'We continue to speak with residents and businesses, addressing concerns case by case to help inform proposals for a permanent scheme.' 4 4
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Yahoo
Portobello Road residents 'imprisoned' in homes by anti-terrorism measures mount legal challenge
Residents in one of London's most exclusive neighbourhoods are taking legal action after being "imprisoned" by barriers outside their homes to prevent terrorist attacks. Londoners on Portobello Road in Notting Hill — home to one of the city's most famous markets — say they have been 'trapped' in their homes by the new anti-terror measures. Last month, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea installed 'H-stop' barriers and concrete bollards along the street over fears of vehicles being driven into pedestrians following advice from the Metropolitan Police. But the restrictions — which also bans all vehicles from the road between 10am and 4pm for either three or seven days a week, depending on the section — have raised concerns among locals that they will not be able to leave. There are also fears that emergency services, delivery trucks and taxi cabs will be unable to reach them, The Times reported. With that approach, the terrorists win as well Patrick Somers Patrick Somers, who lives in Portobello Mews, is leading a court challenge by neighbours and traders against the authority's decision. He said: "We absolutely support antiterror measures. Who wouldn't? But you've got to balance it, because if you talk to the police or a risk consultant, they'll say, 'Don't go out, lock yourselves in and you'll be fine'. 'But most people can't live that way — and with that approach, the terrorists win as well." Law firm Broadfield, which represents the residents, claims the new barriers were introduced without formal consultation. Judy Fox, an antique dealer who has been trading in Notting Hill for more than half a century, told the Daily Telegraph: "The council has imprisoned us here. "Customers cannot get in to collect large antiques. People just use (the blocks) to sit on and take photos." The council has liaised with emergency services to ensure their vehicles could get through after paramedics were allegedly forced to park beyond the barriers and carry their kit in to attend to a child with breathing difficulties. New blue badge bays and drop-off areas on side streets have also been created — and blue badge holders living in the closed sections were able to enter and leave. A council spokesman said: "We believe the current measures strike a reasonable balance between protecting the public and supporting the needs of individuals. "The temporary anti-terrorism traffic regulation order on Portobello Road was introduced to protect residents, traders and visitors from the potential threat of vehicle attacks during busy trading periods, following advice from counterterrorism police. We continue to speak with residents and businesses."
Telegraph
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Notting Hill residents ‘trapped in homes' by counter-terror concrete blocks
Notting Hill residents are taking legal action after being being 'imprisoned' in their houses by concrete barriers set up to prevent terror attacks. Kensington and Chelsea Borough Council put in place controversial ' hostile vehicle mitigation ' measures down Portobello Road as part of counter-terrorism guidance issued by the Metropolitan Police. The large concrete bollards and temporary barriers are dotted along the famed street in an effort to protect residents, traders and tourists from potential vehicle-based terror attacks. Residents of Portobello Road – which played a starring role in the Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts romantic comedy film Notting Hill – are now launching a legal challenge against the council. Law firm Broadfield, which represents the residents, claim the new security barriers were introduced without consultation and effectively stop residents accessing their homes by vehicle between 10am and 4pm every day of the week. They claim affected parties include elder and infirm individuals, young families, doctors and local shop and market traders. Patrick Somers, a resident involved in the legal action said: 'We feel trapped in our houses.' He described that in order to get access in or out of their street 'you have to drive to the barrier and just sort of wait for someone in a high-vis to turn up'. Philippe van den Abeele, who lives on the road, argued he should have the right to park in front of his own house. 'There are better ways of securing the road, like bollards that go up and down, much nicer. But the council just doesn't want to spend the money, and they haven't consulted residents,' he said. A security guard, standing by one of the 'H-stop' barriers defended the scheme, claiming its aim is 'to stop terrorism'. He argued that 'many attacks from all over the world have happened, using cars'. A number of residents have also complained that only emergency vehicles are exempt, with disabled blue badge holders not able to access the street. Kapu Lewis said he 'can no longer care for a relative with disability issues because it's almost impossible to get a vehicle to the property.' However, the council claim that the blue badge issue has been addressed, with new bays and drop-off areas created to support those with mobility issues. Mr Somers said traders and business owners on the market street are also struggling since the introduction of the road blocks, warning that 'it'll seriously impact their livelihoods'. He added that 'one local shop has already seen its takings drop by 50 per cent' because customers – who rely on their cars to take purchases home – can no longer park near the shops. Judy Fox, an antique dealer who's been trading in Notting Hill for over 50 years, said: 'The council has imprisoned us here. Customers cannot get in to collect large antiques. People just use [the blocks] to sit on and take photographs.' However, the council maintains that the barriers are a requirement to ensure public safety. A council spokesman said: 'Our top priority remains the safety and wellbeing of everyone in the community and we believe the current measures strike a reasonable balance between protecting the public and supporting the needs of individuals.' Despite these worries, the council insists that changes are necessary to combat the growing threat of vehicle-based terrorism. The spokesman added: 'The temporary Anti-Terrorism Traffic Regulation Order on Portobello Road was introduced to protect residents, traders, and visitors from the potential threat of vehicle attacks during busy trading periods.'
