Mari Deli receives support from local residents for their ‘parklet’ on Chiswick Mall

The parklet at Chiswick Mall alongside Mari Deli restaurant and delicatessen

Petition gathers nearly 300 signatures in a week

The owners of Mari Deli on Chiswick Mall have been canvassing opinion on the ‘parklet’ alongside their restaurant which has caused controversy with drivers who use the road.

“Now that local residents have been able to see the parklet in place for two months, I felt it was a good time to properly canvass local opinion – and the results are conclusive”, says Mari Deli’s owner Mariano.

“In less than seven days, we collected 283 signatures from local residents and visiting customers calling for the parklet to remain and be put into use for customers and passers-by. In fact, the number of people who declined to sign it can be counted on the fingers of one hand”.

The petition has now been submitted to Hammersmith & Fulham Council, in whose borough the restaurant is.

Parklet in Hammersmith Grove; Meristem Design

Council policy to introduce parklets to ‘enhance biodiversity’ and encourage ‘cafe culture’

Hammersmith & Fulham Council initiated the parklet idea in 2023 when they launched their Biodiversity Commission, to demonstrate commitment to preserving and enhancing natural habitats within the borough.

The introduction of parklets, combining greenery with seating and cycle parking, ‘aims to enhance the pedestrian experience and promote biodiversity’.

They are deliberately placed near restaurants and cafes to further support the growth of local businesses in the borough, and they have issued licenses to 70 businesses to encourage an outdoor café culture.

The introduction of parklets in Hammersmith Grove ‘have not only boosted local businesses by 30% but also provided residents with inviting spaces to enjoy’, they say, ‘contributing to improved air quality and community wellbeing’.

Parklet in Hammersmith Grove; Meristem Design

The Chiswick Calendar understands that the parklet installed beside Mari Deli was originally intended to go somewhere else in the borough and was relocated at short notice because the original site turned out not to be viable.

The Council received complaints from residents that two residential parking bays were removed without prior consultation. The road is narrow there and the complainants also raised issues of access and safety.

The Council said they would consult emergency services, including the fire brigade, to check the ten-metre structure did not hinder access.

The parklet and the restaurant’s much-photographed vintage Cinquecento car dressed for Christmas

Time for a decision

Mariano says it is now time for the Council to make a decision on whether the structure should stay:

“The overwhelming support shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone, as the benefits of parklets are well-known – which is why the Council actively supports them …

“Our local community has instantly seen the benefits, including how westbound traffic naturally slows as it approaches the parklet, just before a dangerous crest in the road (and the problematic rat-run traffic is only from the west)”.

If the parklet becomes permanent he will be able to apply for a licence to put outside tables and chairs there, but he has suggested 40% of the space should just be available to the public – “thinking particularly about older folk or others who might have difficulty walking long distances”.

He points out that the position of the parklet is just above the line of the flood water at high tide:

“We often benefit from the extra custom as people have a coffee or whatever as they wait, but even we can see that there should be free, public benches available too”.

Photograph of the day by Frank Noon – franknoon.com

Mariano and Maria at their restaurant; Photograph Frank Noon

Pending permission for the parklet to become semi-permanent, the Council has advised him to remove the public benches which were included when the structure was installed, but he comments:

“The parklet would help not just our business, and people who want to take a break on the public benches. Pedestrians in general would also benefit, as it would allow us to free-up pavement space, which is restricted at this spot”.

The restaurant has been trying to get permission for outside tables for 14 months, though he says it is not always easy to get a response and their local wards councillor for Ravenscourt ward, Cllr Walsh, has not answered a single email or telephone call from them for months.

“We happily maintain the structure, plants and sweep out the empty parklet every day. But after fourteen months of discussion, and a structure already installed at public expense, we do feel it’s time for a positive decision. More importantly, as the petition demonstrates, so do the local community”.

The outgoing vicar of St Nicholas Church, Fr Simon Brandes, who retires at Christmas, praised Mariano in his last newsletter to parishioners, asking them to support him. Mariano gives 30p to the church for every bottle of milk bought at the deli.

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