Portobello Market goes car free: World famous shopping destination will close to traffic

Britain’s most famous market will ban cars completely in trading hours to slash carbon emissions following a trial in the pandemic. 

Portobello Road in Notting Hill, west London, will be closed to vehicles between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Saturday, with exceptions for emergency services, Blue Badge holders, and residents who can only access their home via that route. 

The closure had initially been put in place by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in April 2020 on an experimental basis, with the council claiming it provided ‘greater mobility and space for shoppers as well as reducing local carbon emissions.’

It has now emerged that vehicles will remain barred from entering the road, with restrictions applying between Westbourne Grove and Cambridge Gardens on Monday to Thursday, and between Cambridge Gardens and Golborne Road on Fridays and Saturdays. 

The move is part of a shift among London authorities generally to make the city more eco-friendly, with other areas implementing vehicle-restricting Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs), which were expanded during the pandemic.

The closure will not impact Blue Badge holders and those with disabilities will be able to access the road for pick up and drop off.

Residents who can only get into their homes via Portobello Road will also be allowed access and emergency services will be allowed access to the road at all times.

In January, a High Court judge ruled that measures announced last year aimed at boosting walking and cycling in London and reducing traffic in response to the pandemic should be ‘substantially amended’. 

Some 89 LTNs were built in London last year, resulting in 62 miles of cycle routes in the capital. 

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has told TfL to spend a minimum of £100million on healthy streets in 2021. 

Some councils in the capital have turned to using cameras to penalise drivers for ‘moving traffic offences’. 

It is thought drivers do not understand the ‘no motor vehicles’ sign – a motorbike over a car surrounded by a red circle – used to mark out the areas. The sign has been in use since 1964 and is in the Highway Code.

The Department for Transport said councils outside of London will be able to introduce the powers by the end of the year, sparking fears of a steep rise in fines elsewhere.

MailOnline reported claims in July that motorists had paid 250,000 fines worth £14million in the past year for driving in London’s Low Traffic Neighbourhoods after ‘failing to understand road signs’.

It is thought drivers do not understand the ‘no motor vehicles’ sign – a motorbike over a car surrounded by a red circle – used to mark out the areas. 

The sign has been in use since 1964 and is in the Highway Code.

The Portobello Road decision was made following consultation with and support from residents, businesses, traders and the local community.

Portobello Road market is probably the most well known in the country.

It is said to be the world’s largest antiques market and the road was named after the historic Porto Bello Farm – named after the town of Porto Bello in Panama, captured by the British from the Spanish in 1739, as part of the War of Jenkins Ear.

For much of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Portobello Road remained a simple country lane that connected the districts of Notting Hill in the south and Kensall Green in the north.

Cllr Johnny Thalassites, Lead Member for Planning, Place and the Environment, at the council, said: ‘Making the road closure permanent is a great step forward in continuing to improve the experience at Portobello Market as a world-class destination, making it more accessible for visitors and locals with more space to shop and explore.

‘Reducing vehicle emissions in the area will also improve air quality for residents and traders.

‘Becoming more environmentally-friendly is something we as a council are dedicated to, with our aim to become net carbon zero by 2030.’