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Stallholders seek slice of £6.90 pie
• WHITECROSS Street is one of London’s oldest street markets. In the past it was a bustling, well-used market catering for the needs of local people and the daytime population of City workers.
However, in recent times the market has declined almost to the point of extinction. This was because traders were not able to make a sufficient profit due to the changing demands of consumers, the departure of a number of large employers from the immediate vicinity and competition from other types of retailers.
In order to kick-start the regeneration of the market we need to create viable business opportunities for local people who want to become market traders.
And to do this we need to attract people who have money to spend on things that can turn a profit and enable people to make a reasonable living.
Given its location near the City and the Barbican estate, “gourmet food” is an obvious choice.
Over time, when the market has got back on its feet, we expect to see increased diversity in terms of the range of goods for sale and the range of prices offered.
But that will not happen overnight, and it will not happen at all without a rapid increase in the amount of money being spent in the area right now.
There is no disagreement with Sharon Hayward’s comment about the price of some of the goods on sale compared with the weekly income of many residents (Who can pay £3 for loaf of bread? July 6).
But that isn’t the point. If there are people who will come into the area with £6.90 to spend on hand-made wood pigeon and roast plum pie, then I am sure there are plenty of people who live in the area who would like the opportunity to take it off them.
There are already six new locally-based stallholders on the street and dozens more applications have been received from people wanting to trade in Whitecross Street. These are the people we want to help.
ANDY MURPHY
Chief executive, EC1 New Deal for Communities
• PERHAPS it is lucky Sharon Haywood only received 542 votes at the last election because she clearly does not have thick enough skin to be a politician.
I stand accused of being a supporter of New Labour just because I have disagreed with her views. For the record, I am not a member of any party (and definitely not the Labour Party).
Ms Haywood complains about the success of a food market in her area, on the grounds that it received partial funding from EC1 New Deal, a body she has been expelled from.
She even objects to people from neighbouring Barbican attending the market as they are not sufficiently working class.
She ignores the positive impact on employment, enterprise and crime that such a market can have, which are some of the objectives of EC1 New Deal.
She also ignores the fact that EC1 New Deal is funded by taxpayers, many of whom will be those visiting the market from the surrounding areas she so clearly despises.
Ms Haywood also claims that I despise Iceland shoppers. Not true, I despise those like her who try force their views onto others and who aim for the lowest common denominator. Long live the goat’s cheese!
ADRIAN WATSON
Batchelor Street, N1
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