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Council wants to axe us, warn West End stallholders
Ellen Widdup and Nicholas Cecil23 Mar 2009
LONDON'S 500-year-old street stall tradition could be wiped out by town hall plans to "clean up" the West End, traders warned today.
Family businesses that have lasted generations face eviction as a result of a Bill which could ban stalls that have a "deleterious" effect.
Under the City of Westminster Bill, currently going through Parliament, stallholders could be prevented from passing pitches on to their children - a centuries-old tradition.
A source at Westminster council, which is behind the Bill, said it would give officials the power to oust "old timers selling bits of nothing". He added: "The aim is to get rid of tacky trinket stalls, scruffy-looking pitches and kiss-me-quick tat. We want to scrap grandfather rights. Just because a stall was successful 60 years ago does not mean it works now."
Stallholders reacted angrily. John McKenna, 53, who runs Oxford Street Bags and Accessories, said the Bill would be "the final nail in the coffin". Mr McKenna, who inherited the pitch when he was 16 and wants to hand it on to his son John, 33, said: "The council has had a long-running campaign to try to take us down.
"Two years ago they trebled our rent, then slapped on business rates. It's like the Gestapo. Now they want to take away our rights, our livelihood, everything we have ever known."
His brother Peter, 61, who runs a fruit stall near Marble Arch, said the council wanted to limit street trading to the designated markets in Berwick Street, Church Street, Rupert Street, Strutton Ground, Tachbrook Street and a site in Harrow Road due to open in May.
Records show stalls have been in the West End since the 16th century, with Shakespeare referring to "costermongers". Wally Watson, chairman of West End Street Traders, said the stalls in Oxford Street had been there for at least 200 years. The City of Westminister Bill would give new powers for council officers to refuse a street trading licence, and give them greater control over location of stalls. It would also end the right of appeal to Crown Court in cases of disputes.
Conservative peer Lord Lucas of Crudwell and Dingwall, who opposes the Bill, said he believed it was part of a drive to streamline Oxford Street before the 2012 Olympics. "There are times when Westminster seems intent on prettifying London, rather than leaving it messy in corners, rumbustious, and alive," he said. There is also concern Westminster's move could set a precedent for other boroughs.
But Daniel Astaire, a member of the council's Cabinet, denied the intention was to kill off stalls.
He said: "Our aim is about ensuring quality. It is clear they will struggle to survive unless they are updated and some rather outdated practices are ended. This includes passing stalls on through the generations, which stops new talent coming in."
Peter McKenna, 61.
Plot: A fruit stall outside Marks and Spencer, Marble Arch
Peter has run this pitch since 1975. His father owned another pitch in Oxford Street which is now run by his brother. His niece also runs a pitch on North Audley Street.
"Street trading is all I have ever known - it's my whole life. Recently the council has been making life very difficult for us all. My rent has doubled to £1,250 a month and I think that was a move to try and drive me out. These days I barely make enough to pay that rent and my one employee. It's a disgrace. Westminster Council should be supporting us, part of the character of the West End and certainly part of its history.
"I'm sure this is all to do with the Olympics. The council has some stupid idea that Oxford Street will look a whole lot better without us."
Plot: Gourmet Wonder Waffle outside John Lewis.
Owner: Mark Impleton, 44.
History: Mark has run his stall since he was 17 years old.
Comments: "All the huts we operate from are shabby and rotting but the council will not give us planning permission to update them or change them. Meanwhile they complain that we look shabby. What do they expect us to do? It's a vicious circle.
"What would happen to a 44-year-old man with a mortgage to pay and a family to feed if the council just shut him down? I have stuck to their rules, kept my plot tidy and paid my rent on time but my hands are being tied. Its bureaucracy gone mad."
Plot: Handbag and pashminas on the junction of New Bond Street outside Next.
Owner: Victoria Munro, 54
History: the pitch was owned by her grandfather who sold fruit. It was then passed down to her father, then to her. She wants it to go to her grown-up children to continue the family tradition.
Comments: "Passing on this pitch to my children was going to be part of their inheritance. It's a lucrative spot on Oxford Street and would be a way for them to stay in the family business and make some money. If the council take that right away, everything I have ever worked hard for will be for nothing.
"It would be heartbreaking to have it snatched away. I would be utterly devastated."
Reader views (10)
I love Soho and work there but I despair at Westminster Council. They do not seem to care less about the character of this area of London and, far worse, seem to disregarded the very people living and working in the area.
- John, London, 25/03/2009 08:26
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A lot of these officials have no idea of business,they grossly overcharge some traders with their high rentals regardless of the businesses profitability,subsequently many popular small shops have disappeared.There was one instance where some shops had their rates hiked to an unacceptable level.These premises were located close to a football ground & when there was a home game the police prevented car parking for some considerable radius around the site.All this was for more effective crowd control.As a result there was a considerable loss of business on these days.When this was pointed out to the local council, their response was "Why don't you traders sell more goods on the other days?" To argue with these people is like trying to dig a hole in water.
- Ronald Whitten, chesterfield derbyshire, 25/03/2009 00:56
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I have been a street trader along Oxford St. since the age of 14. I left school with no qualifications, but was eager (to join the real world) so went straight in to working with my father.Sadly he passed away 13 years ago, but left the business to me. I am now 40, married and have 2 children. This was to be the birth-right of my eldest son, then in time (hopefully)his younger brother would join him as a partner. So.... what with this hugely worrying recession, Westminster City Council decides now is the time to not only take away the street traders of the West Ends livelihoods, but their lives. I don't know anything else. This will devastate not only the lives of us (aprox 36 licensed traders) but what of the pitch inspectors?? Their job description: to check that we are present every day, twice a day. Will they lose their jobs?? I highly doubt it. The council seems intent on taking away an integral part of London. What next? Banishing and disbanding The Chelsea Pensioners? Sacking The BeefEaters at the Tower? London is slowly being torn apart piece by piece, and action must be taken soon, before it becomes unrecognisable to LONDONERS.
- Steve (Also A Street-Trader In Oxford St.), london UK, 24/03/2009 23:02
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I imagine these ideas come from councillors or the dreaded CEO class, you know them educated by the state, until the age of 30, then a nice little council job, paid by the state, rapid promotion and lo and behold this vast experience is enough for them to dictate how we live our lives. Some still believe (especially NuLab) that attaching more leeches to the body will provide the cure.
- Wills, Soton, 24/03/2009 05:46
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Westminster seem determined to wipe out long established cultural icons and the very things which give London its character and colour. Placard bearers in Oxford Street. Cleaning up Soho. And now this. For what? I can't work it out. Is it because they don't bring them big money? Are they trying to turn Westminster into a bland designer label paradise (this ruined Milan)? Dear Lord, how can these fools be stopped?
- Trevor, London, UK, 23/03/2009 16:48
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Westminster City Council has ruined Bell Street Market; there are only three stalls left; after a whole street of stalls just 15 years ago etc.
Bell Street was a vibrant second hand street market; which was there when I was a kid 65 years ago; and a market where antique dealers and working class people could buy almost anything very cheaply etc.
Then the street market inspectors started demanding that second hand clothes be dry cleaned and pressed; before selling them on to the poorer members of Westminster; for 50 pence or so etc; knowing that to dry clean all the cheap second hand clothes would make them to expensive for the less wealthy to but them etc.
These under-hand sly tactics; destroyed a once flourishing street market.
Now you can buy cheap imported clothing in Church Street Market instead; no quality of course, or even a bargain; but cheap and nasty imports instead.
Remember: Westminster City Council is the very same council that sells their Cemeteries for 5 pence each; including war cemeteries; all second hand of course.
If you want anything to remain in Westminster; even local history itself; it helps to be a free-mason; if not; forget it all; they look after their own kind; not the interests of the normal people that happen to live and work there.
- Mickyinlondon, london, 23/03/2009 16:40
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Westminster Council do what they want to keep eachother in jobs with no regard for the working man.How would these folks like it if their livelyhoods were taken away.The tourists love the characters that man these stalls.Leave them alone !!!
- Chris Steele, South Africa, 23/03/2009 15:56
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PS: Wonder if the stall holders are subject to a Royal Charter? Many 'markets' were and give enduring rights or should be offered alternatives.
- Tony Islander, Herts, 23/03/2009 14:26
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Hands off the stall holders. They are a part of London life and service. They indeed serve a purpose which the larger businesses are incapable of.
- Tony Islander, Herts, 23/03/2009 14:23
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There is a clear move, not only in Oxford Street, but throughout London to get rid of all market stalls. Berwick Street is a shadow of its former self, and even Brick Lane is getting smaller every weekend. The major retailers are obviously behind this with the aim of ensuring that everyone shops in their 'identikit' shopping malls.
- Patrick, Dalston, 23/03/2009 13:01
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