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Ex-tourist chief is head of firm closing historic antiques market
Sri Carmichael, Consumer Affairs Reporter18.02.09
A FORMER head of Visit London is closely involved with the closure of the capital's oldest antiques market, it emerged today.
As chief executive of the tourist agency James Bidwell was responsible for promoting heritage sites such as Antiquarius in Chelsea.
But he is now taking over the Grade-II listed premises after becoming European head of the American fashion chain Anthropologie.
Traders at the market in King's Road are being evicted within months to make way for the store. The premises will be gutted and restored.
The market has been a favourite with stars and tourists for more than 40 years. Sir Mick Jagger bought clothes there in the Sixties and visited to do his Christmas shopping last December.
A host of other stars, including Sir Elton John, Bob Geldof and Barbara Streisand are also regulars.
Traders at Antiquarius are furious that Mr Bidwell is implicated in shutting down a "popular and unique" piece of London's history.
Sue Norman, 55, who runs a blue-and-white china stall at the market, said: "Antiquarius has been a popular tourist attraction for decades because it's unique, not a faceless chain store.
"The great irony is that someone whose job it used to be to protect markets for visitors is involved in destroying us. It's disgraceful."
Anthropologie, which is affiliated to Urban Outfitters, plans to open the Chelsea store early next year and is taking on the lease of the premises. It will be one of its first two branches in Britain - the other is set to open on Regent Street in December.
Mr Bidwell is managing the firm's European expansion. He argues that he is not responsible for the closure of Antiquarius because the decision was taken by developer London and Associated Properties.
Mr Bidwell, who stepped down from the helm of Visit London last December after three years, and was previously marketing director at Selfridges, said: "I was committed to promoting diversity when I worked at Visit London and I still am.
"Every Anthropologie is a collection of boutiques which sell decorative antiquities as well as clothes and every store has different architecture. It doesn't feel like a chain and we will be preserving the unique building. We genuinely care about the local community and our plans will absolutely reflect this point of view."
John Heller, chief executive of developer London and Associated Properties, has said that it will pay for estate agents to help traders find alternative accommodation in the area.
The firm has already shut down an antiques market in Islington. Last year it ejected some 40 traders from The Mall in Camden Passage despite a petition by customers to Downing Street. It plans to rent the Grade-II listed former tram shed to an international chain.
Sarah Percy-Davis of LAPADA, the association of art and antiques dealers, said: "We are extremely sorry that Antiquarius, a historic antique centre which has been such an important part of the trade, will no longer exist. It will be a big loss to London."
Visit London denied Mr Bidwell's departure last year was linked with a decision last July by the London Development Agency to axe £5million from Visit London's strategy arm, London Unlimited.
Mr Bidwell said at the time: "Tourism is one of the capital's most vital industries as it translates directly into jobs for London and Londoners. It has been a privilege to serve this great city."
