Camden takes a softly-softly approach to clutter on Goodge Street

It appears as though businesses are still calling the shots in the London Borough of Camden when it comes to efforts to keep the public footways clear of clutter.

Instead of issuing enforcement notices to business owners who block the pavement with advertising boards (A-boards), Camden Council has come up with an elaborate solution to the problem of obstructing the free flow of pedestrians.

According to a new report before a scrutiny committee, Camden will this month launch its “Goodge Street A-board trial” — a three month experiment to test viable solutions to street clutter.

“The trial focuses on education, behaviour change, and creating safer, more inclusive streets”, state officers who say if it is successful it will be rolled out elsewhere in the borough. 

Discussions regarding Goodge Street began in 2023, when the think tank Centre for London published a report about the excess clutter on London sidewalks and its ramifications for people trying to get by, especially those in wheelchairs.

Its report used Goodge Street in Fitzrovia as a prime example of excess street clutter. Red Szell, a blind resident in Camden, also spoke up about the dangers obstructions presented to the visually impaired. 

But in January 2025, Camden Council stated that they did not want to be anti-business and thus were not going to use its power of enforcement to remove clutter and fine repeat offenders.

Instead they were going to launch a pilot initiative in an effort to address the problem. 

Finally — one year later — the experiment is ready to take place.

Its aim is to persuade business owners to “adopt innovative advertising methods” such as QR codes, digital marketing, and local forums instead of dumping stuff on the pavement.

Key objectives include educating businesses on the dangers of leaving A-boards on the public footways, and rewarding compliance and good practice.

Restaurants and cafes with outside tables and chairs will also be asked to keep them within their allocated areas. Stickers will be placed on tables asking customers to be mindful of keeping the footway clear.

“Camden Officers will monitor compliance daily and capture data which will be shared with individual businesses throughout the trial,” states the report.

Recording of foot traffic will show the impact of improved pedestrian flow on businesses.

Business owners were initially apprehensive about the trial, so Camden officers have spent time on a joint solution, working with local business group The Fitzrovia Partnership in persuading them of the merits of the scheme, along with the Royal National Institute of the Blind.

“The recent RNIB campaign ‘How you can make our streets accessible for everyone’, highlights several issues which presents a timely opportunity for Camden to demonstrate innovation and leadership in addressing accessibility challenges,” say Camden officers.

When The Fitzrovia News took a walk along Goodge Street this week, there seemed to be some improvement with fewer A-boards out and most were within the forecourts of shop fronts. The biggest obstruction for pedestrians was the amount of bagged rubbish and bins on the pavement.

Camden Council, Culture and Environment Scrutiny Committee, Monday 12 January 2026.

Additional reporting by Linus Rees.

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