Traders who had been threatened with losing their pitches in the Kidbrooke Village development have been told they can stay after a change of heart from Berkeley Homes.
Last year The Greenwich Wire revealed that the developer was planning to end their leases in favour of new shops that were opening in Pegler Square, next to Kidbrooke station.
The traders had initially been expected to leave by November, but that had been extended to March.
In December one trader, Stefano Frigerio, said that neither Berkeley nor Greenwich Co-operative Development Agency (GCDA), which manages the stalls on behalf of the developer, had spoken to the traders, who were open during the pandemic and played a key role in making Kidbrooke Village a sought-after place to live.
Now after talks with the traders, they are to keep their pitches once the new shops open.
However, Frigerio is leaving the square anyway, and is moving across Kidbrooke Park Road to run the cafe at ArtFix, in Cranfield Walk, from Saturday. He told The Greenwich Wire that he feared that new businesses would have the final say on which traders could have pitches in the square, and had decided to move his Caffè Carretto business into fixed premises instead.
He said: “It’s much more positive than when this started. But there’s still uncertainty — we’ve come up with the agreement, but there’ll always be a clause or a voice that says if a commercial properties is adamant for us to leave, we’ll have to leave anyway.
“At the end of the day, we’ll still have that fear. Maybe it’s not going to happen, but if it happens, then we have to leave. And I can’t afford to have that news, it’s my income.”
But Frigerio is sad to leave his pitch, he is looking forward to the move. “It’ll be my Caffè Carretto brand, my products and everything,” he said. “But I’ll be in a in a shop in a proper venue. That’s a great step for my business.”
Berkeley Homes told The Greenwich Wire that there “will be no veto put in place” for incoming businesses on which traders could have pitches in the square.
The company said in a statement: “All existing traders will remain in Pegler Square under new agreements with GCDA, which will be formalised over the coming weeks and continue to complement the existing commercial offering.
“Berkeley remains focused on letting the remaining vacant premises in the village centre and over the coming weeks will consult with Kidbrooke Village residents on appropriate commercial offerings, feedback on the rota of the pop-up traders and the return of the farmers’ market.”
Charlie Davis, a former Greenwich councillor and the Conservative candidate for Eltham & Chislehurst, had written to Berkeley about the issue and taken part in the meetings.
He said: “I’m delighted that after months of meetings, Berkeley Homes have reversed their previous decision to serve notice to the Kidbrooke Village traders. There are still some issues to be ironed out, but this is all a positive step in the right direction.
“The traders have made an enormous contribution not just to the local economy in Kidbrooke Village, but in helping to foster and develop the local community. I’m pleased to have been able to play my part in helping to ensure that continues for the long-term.”
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