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A scheme to demolish a market in east London and replace it with a tower block has been approved by City Hall planners.
Queen's Market in Upton Park is due to replaced with a 31-storey tower block and two 15-storey blocks. A new market will be provided but temporary facilities during the three-year construction period will exclude many current traders.
Mayor Boris Johnson will decide whether to back the scheme today. If he does, it will be the third tall building project he has approved, despite promising to curb skyscrapers during his election campaign.
Today local community groups and politicians from all parties lined up to attack the plan to demolish the market. Tory member of the London Assembly Andrew Boff said: “A 31-storey tower in a residential area is against everything Boris has been saying. It is another example of local communities being sold out to big business. I am hoping he will turn it down.”
The Green Party's Jenny Jones said she would be ”completely disappointed by Boris” if he approved the application. She said: “I hoped he'd take a stand on this and stand up for ordinary Londoners. They are the ones who use the market and they most benefit from the low prices there.”
John Biggs, Labour Assembly member for East London, said: “Clearly there is an inconsistency between what he said (during the election campaign) and what he is now doing.
“I haven't seen enough of the detail of the scheme to be satisfied that it protects the ability of traders to remain there in perpetuity and at low rent.”
The scheme, by developer St Modwen, was approved by Newham council and now needs Mr Johnson's backing at a meeting scheduled to take place today.
Senior St Modwen manager Nick Cabe claimed that City Hall and Sir Simon Milton, Mr Johnson's deputy mayor for planning, were “positive” about the scheme.
A GLA spokesman yesterday refused to deny that Sir Simon had recommended in favour of the scheme.
A senior City Hall source said: “Boris went down to see the market and he was quite touched by what the traders told him about the need to provide low-priced food for local people. But it was quite clear that the place needed investment.”
The Mayor's initial response to the developer's application, last June, was that “on balance” it did not comply with his planning policy. But he said the scheme “could possibly” be brought into compliance with relatively small changes.
Twelve thousand people signed a petition against the St Modwen scheme and there have been 2,600 letters of objection to planning authorities.
Lucy Rogers, of Friends of Queen's Market said: “At this time it is very irresponsible to put the livelihoods of so many stallholders at risk.”
Reader views (15)
I lived in Upton Park when the last tall building was at Queen's Market - the late, unlamented James Sinclair Point. There were good reasons why it was knocked down.
- Julian Dobson, Sheffield, UK
Boris, unlike Hazel Blears,has done the right thing.
The local markets, the traditional people`s markets, have an inalienable right to survive and the Queen`s Road, unlike most of the others in London, has succeeded where others have failed.
Heaps cheaper than Borough, it proffers produce of the same quality and variety in an environment which makes no attempt `to take you in` but just allows you to enjoy in your own way and at your own pace.
It is one of the few `real` places left in London, and it is in an area whose ethnicity is 61% non-white. Its survival should serve as an example for markets in the rest of London. We all want to enjoy real, local, neighourhood street markets.
Sandra (London Street Market Walks)
www.geocities.com/sandra_shevey/classic_tan3.html (the walks)
http://sandrashevey.tripod.com (the documentary)
- Sandra Shevey, London
I've heard Boris has rejected the plans on grounds of the high-rise towers. Good on him.
I'm bored of the shopping mall style of shopping, same old shops and same olds stuff on offer- London's traditonal street markets are the future!
- David Kay, London, UK
This is a very bad decision to demolish the market. As always, culture and community, the real attractions of London, are steamrolled over for the sake of unnecessary buildings that could easily be erected where others stand derelict.
Terri
- Terri Murray, London, UK
Ye olde Queen strkes again.
- William, Haywards Heath UK
Anyone who has been there will know its a better place for tower blocks than for that derelict market to remain,
- Abdul, London
Sadly, consultations such as they exist are just PR exercises. This case is all the more alarming as Newham is a one party state and so all the cards have been stacked against local people from the beginning. Let's hope Boris's principles are not bulldozed by the developers.
- Mark T Jones, London
Another example of the powerful 'out of town' developers getting their own way and marginilising the local community....
Is this the best option to regenerate an area?
- Yunus, East Ham, London
I work in Upton Park as an English teacher and shop at this market , which as it stands offers excellent variety , the best value I have seen as a thrifty shopper and the ability to choose your own fruit and vegetable ( i.e not have it chosen for yiou by the stall holder. It also showcases the multicultural aspects of Newham very well. The market needs some money invested in it , rather than being demolished and replaced with a smaller , more expensive market offering less choice , less social inclusivity and less access to healthy foo.
- Dominic Clarke, Lewisham
Yet another plan for an unwanted tower block. Why oh why oh why would they go ahead and build it in a recession? The only people that like tower blocks is property developers...
- Cq, London
There are already several 'tower blocks' in the vicinity of Upton Park, so this is hardly an alien building in a flat landscape. The market is in dire need of refurbishment and if the replacement offered includes affordable homes and new community space as well as a newer, safer market, why is Boris required to be turn down the project? During the election campaign he fought against tower blocks being built in inappropriate locations that do not contribute to the local area, this is hardly one of those schemes.
- Darren, London
Cor,that's going to be one rough housing estate.It's bad enough round there now.It'll be filled to capacity with asylum scroungers and illegals.
I'm quite pleased I don't go to watch the Hammers anymore now!
- Steve, London
Oh um, I say, what's a market dear boy? Is it um, like one of those awfully good organic tuck shops I visited at public school? Ooh, um, I say, what do I do now?
- Jj, London
In the 10 years I have been working in London many arkets seem to be reducing in size iof not disappearing - Berwick Market is a shadow of its former self. Briok Lane is half the size it was. Is there a 'secret plan' somewhere to get rid of as many of London's markets as possible, preferably before 2012?
- Patrick, Dalston
Potentially another u turn by BoZo the supposed cycling mayor who makes driving and polluting in London easier. He promises one thing but you usually get the other. Bring back Ken, for all his faults at least he stuck to firm, coherent policies and stuck to his guns.
- Mcw, London
