London stationery shop adored by celebrities overrun with e-bikes: 'I have had enough'

A London stationery shop frequented by celebrities has been swamped by an “overwhelming” number of e-bikes parked outside, the owner has said.

Choosing Keeping in Covent Garden is a famous independent stationery shop that singer Gracie Abrams has named her “favourite store in the world”.

However, owner Julia Jeuvell said that access to the shop, which has been praised as “beautiful” by Gwendoline Christie , is being hindered by a dockless e-bike bay situated outside her shop.

Gracie Abrams called the store her ‘favourite in the world’ PA Wire The 41-year-old said that the large number of e-bikes on the pavement has been proving a “nightmare”, claiming that she has seen a sharp rise in anti-social behaviour and drug dealing in the area.

Speaking to The Telegraph, she said: “It affects deliveries, it can block fire exits.

“People care about the community here in Covent Garden, but we have zero voice,” she said, as she voiced her anger at Camden Council for “not standing up for small businesses”.

She has claimed that neither she nor neighbouring businesses were consulted on the parking bay, and has accused the local authority of failing to address the situation.

Camden Council recently approved a new five-year procurement strategy for its dockless bike hire schemes Google Maps “The council give us no help. They laugh at us. I feel humiliated.”

In June, Camden Council approved a new five-year procurement strategy for its dockless bike hire schemes.

Councillor James Slater said the local authority will continue to encourage the use of e-bikes throughout the borough, citing their growing popularity.

However, he stressed that it will “take a no-tolerance approach to e-bikes that are blocking pavements and left stranded in car parking bays”, explaining that more than 2,000 have been impounded.

Some boroughs, including Westminster, have launched crackdowns on e-bikes in light of the scale of the problems they are causing.

In Bromley, Lime bikes have been banned throughout the borough after a blind man had to walk into a dual carriageway with his guide dogs as the e-bikes were blocking the pavement. The company has since changed its app to stop the hiring of its bikes in the borough , The Standard reports.

Some boroughs have launched crackdowns on e-bikes in light of the scale of the problems they are causing PA Archive Responding to Jeuvell’s claims, Camden Council stressed that it remains committed to supporting high streets and local shops, especially when “businesses across the country are facing very challenging times”.