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Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER
Published: 17 August 2007

Market organiser Stephanie Smith

Shock for traders as weekly market is sold

Stallholders are forced to move on after ‘secret deal’

THERE was uproar this week after Archway’s popular weekly market was forced to leave the shopping precinct after a “secret deal” struck by developers.
The move follows a highly successful year of trading by the 40 stallholders who are set to open for the last time next Saturday, August 25.
Market organiser Stephanie Smith, who launched a last-minute unsuccessful appeal to owners Bridge House Properties to allow the traders to remain at least until Christmas, was devastated by the decision.
The site has been sold on by Bridge House to developers. It is understood that although the new owners can do very little with it, while it is earmarked for redevelopment by Islington Council, they decided to clear the market so that they could “start with a new slate”.
Ms Smith is now looking for an alternative site for the market and one possibility could be the nearby traffic island.
There is even an underground pedestrian tunnel which could be re-opened to the island from the other side of Archway Road and Highgate Hill – opposite the library – which was bricked up in the late 1970s due to rowdy behaviour.
Ms Smith fought to establish the Saturday market which has been widely regarded as regenerating a particularly rundown part of the borough. It was granted planning permission only last December.
She said: “I’m obviously very disappointed that the notice was so short. But I’m determined that all the hard work won’t go to waste.
“We will find a new market site. I think the traffic island would make sense because it’s central and I think it would help to regenerate that area.
“But there are other potential sites including a wide stretch of pavement along Holloway Road.”
Lib Dem councillors said that they would do all in their power to find out who was behind the new scheme – and help Ms Smith find an alternative site.
Junction ward Lib Dem councillor Stefan Kasprzyk said: “This is a body blow to the area. I’m particularly sad that no one appears to be telling anyone what’s going on.
“We urge the new owners to tell us what their plans are.
“I can assure that our planning department along with councillors will be carefully scrutinising any new plans. And whatever they come up with it will have to fit in with the council’s own development scheme.
“We have spent almost four years listening to the views of residents and trying to pull the redevelopment scheme together.
“If a developer chooses to come in willy-nilly I think they’ll be in for a rude shock. “

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