"We have hope and we're still fighting. It's not too late to help."
That is the message to the community from heart-broken traders at a famous King's Road antiques centre, Antiquarius, who face eviction under a scheme to transform the market and 1920s Temperance Hall.
Developer London & Associated Properties (L&AP) wants to change the network of stalls - crammed with plates, jewellery and art - which have graced the Grade II-listed building for nearly 40 years, and replace it with a fashion emporium called Anthropologie.
The news has devastated traders such as Sue Norman, who has seen the heart of Chelsea change for the worse since she began selling blue and white china there in 1972.
She said: "This will put 40 small businesses on the scrap heap. That is what it boils down to. Some of us have been here for more than 30 years.
"King's Road has had a reputation for being creative. But any individualism has nearly all gone. We are some of the last.
"Many of us will not be able to afford to stay in the area because of high rents elsewhere."
Traders now hope that residents of Chelsea will deluge the council with their opinions about the move, before the applications for listed building consent to change the interior are discussed by councillors.
Hazel Smith, from the King's Road Trade Association, added: "The traders at Antiquarius are a tremendous addition to the King's Road. It's a community there. It would be so sad to see them go, they are part of the neighbourhood."
And while their future remains uncertain, chief executive of L&AP, John Heller remains confident that his plan for the interior of the protected building will not be derailed.
He said: "We are aware that tenants are upset, but I would point out we have offered to find them alternative accommodation. We don't want to see the end of antiques traders, we just want them relocated from this building to more suitable accommodation.
"We are confident that what we have applied for will be passed."
Anyone wishing to comment on the planning applications can do so with Kensington and Chelsea Council until March 6. The reference numbers are LB/09/00199, CL/09/00189 AND PP/09/00198. For more information see www.rbkc.gov.uk
