‘A sign of how we live now’: friction in Notting Hill over counter-terrorism barriers | London

If Richard Curtis had hit the classic Notting Hill last month, things could have been very different.

Julia Roberts would have to overcome the big concrete blocks of her British lover’s hand, and Hugh Grant may have kidnapped her lover who left while fighting to get out of the region in an overly exhausted Peugeot 406.

This is due to the new rules that prohibit all cars between 10:00 and 16:00 from the Portobello Road, where most of the 1999 film was shot. The restrictions on some parts of the famous street market cover all weeks and only three days in others. To implement new rules, large gray concrete plates and cafcaf red barriers were placed along the street.

In the midst of the rush of the Portobello road market in the afternoon on Friday, tourists put them in order to take photos of Will Thacker’s famous blue door. Ella, the fan of Hit romantic comedy, said, “It seems like I’m watching the film again,” he said. In 1999, after the auction was sold at an auction for £ 5,750, he sat in concrete blocks and applied barriers.

If Notting Hill was taken today, Ella’s mother, Katie Alasky, said, “It will move away from the film. Obstacles and travel restrictions were implemented on the advice of the Anti -Terrorist police warning on the threat of potential vehicle attacks.

The 44-year-old lawyer, who visited London from New Orleans, said: “We love here, all stands and unique things, barriers are minus. To see very unfortunate-them is a sign of how we live.”

James Darcy, a 33 -year -old working in the construction, saw Notting Hill “20 times .. He was visiting the blue door from Melbourne, Australia. “If it was filmed today, it would probably not be the same, that’s for sure.” Acknowledging that new restrictions have been implemented for the safety of everyone, he said that they were moving away from “historical and vintage air”.

Although some see barricades as a glory, it has been practical and financial results for market traders. Some have fought to re -stock their stalls, because before 16:00, the barriers were not allowed.

47-year-old Charlotte Preval-Reed sells prints that encourage “positive thoughts .. “If Notting Hill is taken here today, I think it will look a little sad,” he said.

Preval-Reed said the work has been significantly affected by the measures and that the uprising has fallen since it was built. He said that trade has been “the worst 100%” since Covid.

Im If it continued, I might not be able to do my job potentially, because it wasn’t worth it for how much loss I was. ”

Local residents were also affected. “I’m not a designer, but I’m sure I can design something better than that, Pat

Somers said that people learned a few days before the restrictions were implemented on July 1. Currently, with the help of Broadfield law firm, he leads with legal difficulty on behalf of residents and merchants against the Kensington and Chelsea Council, which puts changes into force.

Somers said, “They did not think of this. We have all kinds of unwanted results here,” Somers said. He was afraid that restricted access could pose a danger in an emergency.

“My wife’s mother was very ill and unfortunately died in April. We had a call in the middle of the afternoon to reach the end of life.” Somers, if the obstacles were in place at that time, they wouldn’t get out, Somers said.

Recently, an ambulance said he could not pass obstacles to join a child with respiratory problems. “The ambulance came, but he couldn’t get in.” They parked farther and had to carry “big backpacks with them, but they hadn’t had the right equipment, so he had to go back again”.

Somers said that the child was good at the end of the child.

He said: “We cannot be a situation where there is no easy access to an emergency vehicle.” The Council said that the plan was consulted with emergency services and claimed that they could access the road.

Somers acknowledged that the region needs the fight against terrorism as long as they were introduced correctly. “Bollard must be, but they did it wrongly. We saw that they were really effectively implemented and managed in other parts of London.”

Although concrete sheets are a safety determine, many tourists use them for something else. “Wonderies to sit,” he said, 39 -year -old Anna Twigg, an artist who visited London from Oban, a 65 -year -old Dolina and a former social worker.

Two women admitted that there should be some kind of obstacle to act as a fight against terrorism, but thought it was a place for improvement. “They can be a little more attractive, Dol Dolina said.

A Kensington and Chelsea Council spokesman said: ız Our priority continues to be the security and welfare of everyone in society, and we believe that existing measures establish a reasonable balance between protecting the people and supporting the needs of individuals.

“We continue to talk to residents and businesses according to situations that will help inform the offers for a permanent plan.”