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Market ministers to help traders fight for survival
Jonathan Prynn and Miranda Bryant12.10.09
A Whitehall initiative to save London's threatened street markets was launched today.
Markets such as Portobello and Smithfield will have ministerial champions to help protect them from supermarkets, internet shopping and planning rules that favour chain stores.
MPs on the communities and local government select committee criticised ministers in a report over the summer for failing to take a lead in halt ing the decline in markets. A new body will champion markets throughout Britain "in recognition of their significant economic and social benefits".
About 15 of London's 150 street markets have closed in the past decade and traders at many others, including Shepherd's Bush, Brixton and Queen's Market in Newham, have warned they are fighting for survival.
The group will report to Rosie Winterton, the Local Government minister and Jim Fitzpatrick, minister for Food and London.
Tim Burke of the Friends of Portobello group said: "Markets need to be protected. Britain has always had a vibrant street market culture."
Traders at Portobello welcomed the move. Amelia Powers, 34, whose personal shopping company Concetta Vintage has a stall on Fridays, said: "We need good support and advertising. People need to understand the hard work we put in. I think people think we just pluck these items out of nowhere.
"All of the designers come to us - next week when all the buyers are back from Milan and Paris they will come here."
Surbiton is to get a farmers' market - 30 years after TV sitcom The Good Life pioneered suburban self-sufficiency. About 20 stall holders are expected to set up in Maple Road on Saturday.
Reader views (4)
The main reason why East Street Market (the Lane) spiraled downwards from a thriving market on which tens of thousands descended on weekly to a ghost of its former self had nothing to do with competition but Southwark Council banning pitches being grand-fathered. Over-night many of people working there saw no future for themselves and as a result the market has declined from a major local attraction to just another road selling yams, phonecards and dodgy DVDs.
The Lane was once the centre of Walworth's economy and many times many businesses benefited from it. Now it is an eyesore. Perhaps Whitehall can reign in the local authorities too.
- Mark, South-East London
Another quango with parasite Rosie Winterton at the helm, grabbing more in expenses than will ever be spent on helping market traders to earn a living.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe Compound, EUSSR
More overpaid civil servants that will make no difference whatsoever.
- P Staker, Londonistan.
And Labour forms yet another Quango with four, over paid under worked civil servants, to every trader.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
