Traders at Ridley Road market in Dalston have criticised Hackney council plans to modernise the marketplace.
They say they’ve been hit with dozens of regulations which make it increasingly hard to trade.
The rules include a controversial requirement for stallholders to remain in place for 51% of the day.
Robert Evans has run a fruit stall at the market for over 50 years. He says this requirement is unnecessary and unrealistic.
“I’m in the city centre at the crack of dawn getting my produce,” he says, “so I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect me to be here until late into the afternoon, especially when the market is quieter.”
Robert argues these kind of decisions should be down to him as a self-employed trader.
“The market has run itself for decades,” he says, “I don’t have a problem with the council getting involved but I don’t like it being enforced and being threatened with losing my pitch just for running it the way I always have.”
Hackney Council say they are committed to helping the market thrive. “We are investing £1.5m in Ridley road market to help existing traders compete with a changing high street.”
They also say the requirements for traders to man stalls 51% of the time are lower than in other boroughs.
Many stallholders feel the council’s proposed plans for the market might lead to the loss of its cultural diversity
The council have also proposed an increase in fees as part of their modernisation plans.
Sonia, who runs a juice stall at the market, says this could mean her having to give up the business or move elsewhere.
“I’ll try my best but if the rent increases it will eat into my profits which are already quite small.”
She says that despite the council insisting they support the market she is not convinced they are doing enough to fight the tides of gentrification in the area, particularly considering an ongoing dispute about the future of the adjacent Ridley Road Shopping Village.
“It’s worrying because the market is essential to so many people. There are a lot of people in the area who rely on the cheap produce they can buy there so if stallholders are forced to move away a really important social and cultural hub will be lost.”
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HeadlineTraders hit back at council plans to modernise Ridley Road market
Short HeadlineTraders criticise council plans for Ridley Road market
StandfirstPotential fee increases could price businesses out of the area according to stallholders
Traders at Ridley Road market in Dalston have criticised Hackney council plans to modernise the marketplace.
They say they’ve been hit with dozens of regulations which make it increasingly hard to trade.
The rules include a controversial requirement for stallholders to remain in place for 51% of the day.
Robert Evans has run a fruit stall at the market for over 50 years. He says this requirement is unnecessary and unrealistic.
“I’m in the city centre at the crack of dawn getting my produce,” he says, “so I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect me to be here until late into the afternoon, especially when the market is quieter.”
Robert argues these kind of decisions should be down to him as a self-employed trader.
“The market has run itself for decades,” he says, “I don’t have a problem with the council getting involved but I don’t like it being enforced and being threatened with losing my pitch just for running it the way I always have.”
Hackney Council say they are committed to helping the market thrive. “We are investing £1.5m in Ridley road market to help existing traders compete with a changing high street.”
They also say the requirements for traders to man stalls 51% of the time are lower than in other boroughs.
Many stallholders feel the council’s proposed plans for the market might lead to the loss of its cultural diversity
The council have also proposed an increase in fees as part of their modernisation plans.
Sonia, who runs a juice stall at the market, says this could mean her having to give up the business or move elsewhere.
“I’ll try my best but if the rent increases it will eat into my profits which are already quite small.”
She says that despite the council insisting they support the market she is not convinced they are doing enough to fight the tides of gentrification in the area, particularly considering an ongoing dispute about the future of the adjacent Ridley Road Shopping Village.
“It’s worrying because the market is essential to so many people. There are a lot of people in the area who rely on the cheap produce they can buy there so if stallholders are forced to move away a really important social and cultural hub will be lost.”
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