IS IT BECOMING HARDER TO RUN A MARKET
STALL, AND IF SO WHY?
7. A total of 9 comments were posted in response
to this question, which was viewed 658 times. All, including
the 6 market traders who posted, felt that it was becoming harder
to run a market stall. The most frequently cited reason for this
was a lack of support from councils. JohnW, for instance, posted
the following message:
I am a market trader, trading in East Street Market,
Southwark. I have been a market trader for over 6o years, my father
before me and my son following me. I mention this as way of introducing
myself. Market trading is a way of life in my family.
I have some knowledge of Street Trading and Markets
in London.
Are street markets in London declining? The answer
is a definite Yes, they are. Why are they declining? There is
in my opinion and in the opinion of many street market traders
across London one major problem. That problem is that the Borough
Councils are ignoring the value of street markets to not only
the community in their boroughs but also to the effect on the
loss to the tourist industry and to cultural integration.
East Street Market in Southwark has been in its present
situation since 1880, having been removed from the Walworth Road.
It still has some 200 stalls, it once had many more- it has traded
continuously through both the First World War and importantly
through the Second World War. It has had many famous people working
in it. It has been the focal point of many authors in their novels.
Many generations of Londoners have appreciated it.
However, Southwark Council seem to ignore this fact.
The Council have not invested in the ambience of the Market. The
whole road surface needs replacing. Holes appear in the road and
pavement and are only patch repaired, a constant health and safety
problem. What high street supermarket or store would let the very
fabric of their premises run down in a state of disrepair to such
an extent they become tatty or an eyesore?
The costs of trading in street markets are far too
high. Why should traders in Southwark have to pay for the upkeep
of two small public toilets to the sum of £70,000 per year,
and have been paying for the last 12 years with an explanation
remark of a Council officer, "if the market was not there,
the toilets would not be needed, so you have to pay for them".
Yet another consultancy prepared review has just
been published, a Strategic Review of Southwark Markets &
Street Trading Service. Published January 2009, this review states
amongst many others. "Southwark markets are unloved".
"They exist in isolation". "Communications with
stakeholders is poor". This report states what is already
known. In 1998 there were nearly 700 market traders in Southwark,
in 2008, 10 years later, there are under 300.
The answer to the rapid decline and possible demise
of markets, particularly in London must [lie] high on the agenda
of Borough Councils. This decline could be reversed particularly
with the involvement of the stakeholders in markets, i.e. the
traders. [246]
RobVH, a young trader at an indoor market, similarly
observed that "our local council invest very little time
and effort into modernizing or enhancing the market. Structurally,
we have a leaking roof. We have a cold building in winter to the
point where the public won't enter unless they have to. We have
a faded and out dated paint scheme and lots of other superficial
decomposition. The council seem to be happy letting the market
slide into oblivion. Power needs to be delegated to councillors
with an active interest in making the markets thrive."[247]
Charlies also complained about "council officials who do
not really want the markets anymore [
]",[248]
whilst Marion.g observed that:
part of the London councils' agenda in having the
London Local Authorities Act removed from the statute book is
to prevent street traders from passing their businesses to their
children. Removing traders' rights to keep their designated pitches
will expose them to councils' every whim. If the proposed 'reform'
goes through, traders will be in an even worse position than they
are today. Market traders are micro businesses; more are desperately
needed to add value to every aspect of city life.[249]
8. Jane52 felt that supermarkets, offering good,
cheap food and free parking, were making it harder to run a market
stall:
As supermarkets have grown in size and quantity they
have also adopted all things that customers like about markets,10
years ago, if you wanted fresh fish, you had to go to the local
fish market. Supermarket meat was pre-packed, as was the veg.
To ask for certain size or portions markets were the only place.
This has now changed to suit the needs of the customer. Most market
customers would still use the markets apart from the obvious .
Supermarkets will win every time until markets are run in towns
that realise the demise is mainly through over-inflated parking
prices. Also pedestrianising the area around the markets causes
the carrying of purchases to be a problem. When buses were surrounding
the markets they were thriving. It is difficult to see how to
encourage people to drag their bags of food shopping through pedestrianised
streets to get to their mode of transport.[250]
Finally, RobVH also felt that markets needed to be
promoted better[251]
and Ray pointed to higher costs and "a 35% drop in trader
over the past four years."[252]
WHAT MAKES A SUCCESSFUL MARKET?
9. A total of 8 comments were posted in response
to this question, which was viewed 556 times. For Jane52 a "successful
market is a friendly market where the customers feel safe and
secure. An eclectic mix of businesses and quality produce will
bring people back every time. Confident happy customers send out
the message "word of mouth" works as well as any advertising.
If you are good people will find you. If you provide the service
they will come back."[253]
Urbtaf agreed, whilst also reinforcing the importance of location:
the successful trader needs a successful market to
trade on, all the 'good' markets I have worked in my 38 years
of trading have been at the heart of the market town. The moment
the market gets pushed into a less prominent position, then its
the start of the end of that market. The better or more experienced
traders move to a better market. Time after time I have seen the
redevelopment of town centres where the repositioning of the market
appears to be done as an afterthought. We truly are a problem
to developers or appear to be.[254]
Ray stressed the role played by market traders[255].
Delicarr11, an indoor market trader further stressed the importance
of a collaboration between market traders and council officials,
but lamented the absence of such a partnership in his town centre
(Darwin):
Our Market Hall dates back to 1880, and was specifically
built to house an indoor market. We as the people of the town
are very proud of this , but it's not reflected in the budgets
and grants from the local council. There is a redevelopment plan
but work seems to be but back every month. We need more modern
facilities in and around the town centre, if we are to encourage
shopping by locals and to attract businesses from other areas.[256]
Finally, Charlies, picking up on the partnership
point, observed that investment without consultation could also
be unhelpful in the longer-term:
Our market has recently been refurbished at great
expense by our local council, unfortunately there was little consideration
given to views by the traders themselves. Only 4 years old and
it is already showing signs of the old market, dirty, smelly,
a hanging about place for druggies, and drunks, which in itself
stops people coming onto the market. The council does not seem
to be interested, the new stalls are forever having faults which
we have to pay for, even though they admit some materials used
are not fit for the purpose .[257]
10. The Committee would like to express its thanks
to all those who participated in the online consultation.
238 Committee on line consultations remain on the Parliamentary
web site for 18 months after the close of the web forum, in this
case until 28 October 2010. Back
239
Andylever 24 March Back
240
Urbtaf 29 March Back
241
Jane52 05 April, Back
242
Charlies 16 April Back
243
Marion.g 25 March, 06 April, 23 April. Back
244
Lineflight 29 March Back
245
Ray 10 April Back
246
JohnW 31 March Back
247
RobVH 05 April Back
248
Charlies 16 April Back
249
Marion.g 31 March Back
250
Jane52 22 March Back
251
RobVH 05 April Back
252
Ray 10 April Back
253
Jane52 29 March Back
254
Urbtaf 11 April Back
255
Ray 10 April Back
256
Delicar11 14 April Back
257
Charlies 16 April Back