Historic markets being killed by 'gentrification'

Some of the capital's oldest markets - including Well Street in Hackney where Tesco founder Jack Cohen launched his grocery empire - have found that only a few of their stalls are now in use. Experts blame increasing gentrification for the decline of markets which have been operating for up to 400 years as residents turn to farmers' markets instead.

A report by Hackney council says: "Although Hackney's street markets are among the oldest in the traditional 'East End market' style, Hackney is experiencing a downturn in stall holders and customers. At the same time, there is an increase in demand for farmers' and other niche markets."

The report found that only one of four traditional markets in the borough is thriving. It highlights the plight of Hoxton Street market in Shoreditch, which was established in 1687. Only 14per cent of its 215 pitches are in regular use.

At Well Street Market, where Mr Cohen started trading from a barrow in 1919, only seven per cent of its 74 pitches are occupied.

Joanne Price, 40, whose family have owned a florist in Well Street for more than a century, said: "Hackney council are the ones who've killed off the markets by driving up the rents. They also installed cameras and sent the traders parking fines without any warning."

At Kingsland Waste Market only 16 per cent of its 106 stalls are in regular use and the market is plagued by fly-pitchers and crime.

The only market which is flourishing is Ridley Road in Dalston. About 90 per cent of its stalls are in use. The main rivals are the Stoke Newington Farmers' Market and Broadway Market, which sells fine foods and designer goods and has seen its business boom.

Alan Laing, Hackney's cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said: "There has been a demographic change in Hackney, and this is one of the challenges. We are very keen for the markets to continue, they add a tremendous amount of vibrancy to the area and provide cheap and affordable goods."

David Boyle, a fellow of the New Economics Foundation think tank, said: "The problem is there have been decades of under-investment. People like the buzz of markets, and they are cheaper certainly than convenience stores if not supermarkets too, but there has been extraordinary neglect.

"There is also a rather odd class divide between farmers' markets and street markets, with farmers' markets associated with middle-class shoppers. In France things are not so class driven. There are markets to which everybody goes to shop. There is no reason why this cannot be the case in the UK, so long as local authorities change their attitudes a little bit."

In an attempt to reverse the trend, Hackney will spend £85,000 developing a blueprint to save its markets by the end of the year. Last August, it agreed to spend £300,000 on revamping Ridley Road market.

Mayor Boris Johnson has already commissioned a study into the future of street markets and hopes to use planning policies to support them.

The Evening Standard's Small Shops campaign has promoted greater protection for independent traders in order to preserve the individuality of London's high streets.

'The council is responsible for killing us off'

Mohammed Yaqoob

The Well Street stallholder, 48, has sold women's clothing on the market for 21 years and is one of three traders left. "The market's finished now. The council is responsible for killing it off. They raised the rents so high that everyone disappeared."

Joanas Christian

Mr Christian, 46, runs an African vegetable stall in Well Street. "It's not Tesco that bothers me. They can't beat me on price. But we need more stalls. The council needs to try and attract more stalls, but they're too concerned with giving out parking fines."

Mark Brooks

The 59-year-old, whose family have owned a
florist shop and stall in Hoxton Street since 1919, said: "Hackney council have put all the money into other markets. We get no support or investment here. There's just interference and red tape. It's sad when you look at all the history."

Katherine Murray

The 82-year-old has shopped in Hoxton Street for more than a decade. "This market was a real diamond. It's had its day now. For older people it was a real life line. It seems people would rather go to shops now."