Freedom of Information (FOI) request reveals underspend

The Good Growth fund appears to have been allocated to someplace else without consultation

Newham Council’s failure with the “co-create” process saw £3million+ of public funds (wasted on a website that nobody can navigate properly) resulted in hefty payments to private consultants, and a failure to consult traders and shoppers at Queen’s Market properly. It appears that traders and well-meaning citizens who have had to endure the arduous co-create process, struggling through endless (boring) online meetings have been further ignored – SORRY PEOPLE, LOOKS LIKE THERE’S NO NEW FLOORING FOR QUEEN’S MARKET – so much for a new kind of citizenship.

After months and years of what was to be meaningful dialogue, it appears Newham Council has simply co-created the pigeon netting.

Photo above: the “co create” process has resulted in new pigeon netting, designed to keep pigeons out – hang on, is that a family of pigeons we see inside the netting?

The lack of thoughtful understanding, imagination, willpower or care for the borough’s assets by the Council has meant an underspend of over £1million that was secured to improve Queen’s Market, a grant given by the Greater London Authority (GLA) and Mayor of London’s office under the Good Growth fund.

A sitting Councillor recently stated the following: “Following weeks of research and negotiation a solution was found. Newham Council was able to obtain £700,000 from the GLA’s Good Growth Fund which was to be returned as it wasn’t required by the Council’s Queen’s Market scheme for which it was previously destined.” (Source: Newham 65 blog. 8 April 2024)

SO it appears that Newham Council, Newham’s Mayor, GLA member and certain opportunistic Councillors have reallocated Queen’s Market’s budget to another recent embarrassment for the Council – to Stratford Market Village, a semi-privatised entity. For those who don’t know, Stratford Market Village (formally Inshops located inside Stratford Centre) was closed on January 10th where traders were forced to vacate with just 1 hour’s notice: traders say fresh goods and meat were left rotting inside of storage. This follows on from historic handovers of public property to private companies from Stratford Centre, Groupe Geraud UK, Stratford Market Properties Limited and Unex Group: the process of rampant privatisation started by Newham Council has meant the traders were left with next to no safeguards in their trading contracts.

While Friends of Queen’s Market support the traders and plight of Stratford’s Market Village traders, we think the lack of transparency and DECISIONS BEING MADE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS has meant that Queen’s Market has been left short-changed: it’s believed that £700k from the Good Growth fund has been reallocated without consultation, and is a “kick in the teeth” of those residents and traders who took part in the co create process that was to deliver better quality flooring and other improvements at Queen’s Market.

FoQM know that Queen’s Market makes profits that pay for local jobs eg. look at the huge number of market inspectors, and Queen’s often subsidises other street markets in the borough, but here is a classic example of Newham Council repackaging its failures as a success.

Images above (2): Flyers from the Stratford Market Village campaign go to explain a non-existent Olympics Legacy in Stratford and a land grab ie. privatisation of public land for private developers who are “making a killing” as locals live in adverse poverty and neglect by their own public servants, paid for by their collective taxes.

Photo above: QUICK TO TAKE THE CREDIT. Traders at Stratford’s Market Village were unsure of who to thank for the reopening of their businesses as not everyone was told that the money was coming from the Queen’s Market Good Growth budget.

Through Citizens Assemblies local people were to co-create something, but the process was accused of being overly complicated and excluded local people. Recently this was repackaged under the new banner of “People Powered Places” – same charade, different guise.

Photo above: disempowered-looking Stratford Market Village traders who have experienced major disruptions to their family businesses during a cost-of-living crisis, while Newham Council continues to toy around with public finances – that’s our collective taxes they’re playing with!

While Newham Council repackages its failures as a success, its Queen’s Market they have forgotten to thank.

Queen’s Market features in London history talk

Andy from Grow Social Capital and Saif from Friends of Queen’s Market did a 2-hour long talk on London Street Markets to a packed audience to mark the end of the Modern Cockney Festival. We know that street markets are a draw for all communities including the longstanding Cockney communities who have a strong link to London’s markets.

The audience were very engaged with many questions, such as “what more can the authorities do to protect Street Markets in the capital?”

Photo gallery above: London Street Markets talk took place at the Horse Hospital in Russell Square.

Does Newham Council even understand what culture is?

£62,369 was wasted on a failed Borough of Culture bid, with Queen’s Market used as a backdrop.

A few months ago Newham Council was blaring on about how it is applying to be the Borough of Culture 2025 and 2027 but sadly their sudden rushed application was not successful, not because Newham doesn’t have any culture or heritage, but most probably because Newham Council has done its best to ruin places of local culture and heritage like Queen’s Market which is still under threat. A number of Councillors showed their faces at events associated with this Culture bid, but do they even understand what local culture is?

In the middle of winter Queen’s Market was used as a backdrop for ‘fancy schmancy’ stalls, with private security and a sea of plastic banners for an event that lasted a few hours – so much for reducing plastic waste! Not many visitors compared to a normal market day. We ask, where is the annual marketing and publicity budget for Queen’s Market?

Slide show: A sea of plastic “pop up” banners at a rather lacklustre launch, as Newham tried to become a Borough of Culture which was unsuccessful. Private security made sure that anything that didn’t fit the bill was swiftly removed.

During the launch event a number of members of the Queen’s Market traders association spoke out against what they described as mistreatment by Newham Council, and the hand-handed policies that made their working lives increasingly unbearable eg. the parking rules, unfair rent increases and fines (Read article: ‘The Council that raked in 10.6million from parking fines‘). The traders speaking out was instead spun by the Council as being disruptive to a child playing a flute – from our experience Newham residents rarely ever get a platform to speak nor heard. Local voices had been stifled by another corporate/ developer-friendly tactic of “culture washing” or “art washing“.

Some traders at Queen’s Market have said that they no longer wish to be photographed and used for Newham Council’s own publicity because they do not trust the motives of the Council to safeguard the market for the foreseeable future. Many say that they were not given consent forms to sign when photographs were used. They’re not getting paid for participation either, but rest assured the private consultants will be paid handsomely!

Newham Council is increasingly being accused of ‘art-washing’ poverty instead of creating genuine places where local people and businesses can thrive. Have you had any recent experience of art-washing inside of the borough?

Credit card toilets at Queen’s Market cause a stir

New toilets in Queen’s Market have continued to confuse everyone who wants to use them. Recently FoQM found the toilets were not working and in speaking with a staff member from the Market Inspectors Office it wasn’t going to be easy to sort out.

The locking mechanism for the toilet is operated by a credit (or debit) card and if damaged it appears all of the mechanisms are damaged at once, so all of the toilets remain closed until the outsourced specialist contractor is called out to fix the issue.

“A good lock from the local carpenters should have done the trick, but do they listen? We are probably the only work place where not only do we have no access to a toilet when nature calls, but then have to pay for the privilege” said one long time trader at Queen’s Market.

… to add, any costs of repairing the new toilets will be taken out of the Markets budget too.

Thankfully, due to the camaraderie and good nature of the traders in Green Street and Queen’s Market, the traders get assistance from fellow business owners when they have to use a toilet.

The new credit card toilets at Queen’s Market are said to have been co-created using Newham Council’s Co-create platform with money coming from the Good Growth fund.

Photo gallery above: CLOSED DOOR HOSPITALITY. The new credit card toilets at Queen’s Market can close at any time without warning, and it appears no way of opening without calling the specialist contractor to get it fixed.

The digital exclusion of local people from accessing public services is nothing new. For years FoQM and the market traders association have asked for free parking at Queen’s Market that use to happen before, even for the first 30 minutes, but instead visitors are forced to pay through a mobile app only, with no alternative payment options given. For many visitors to the market they are not well versed in the digital phones, gadgets and apps and describe it as a cumbersome process for a small payment. The fussy system is also off-putting for shoppers and affected trade. The traders continue to ask for a cheaper parking rate and a coin-based system that does not discriminate against Newham’s diverse communities.

Since the global Covid-19 lockdown many Newham residents have experienced digital exclusion which results in certain communities, age groups and disabled groups being further ignored with less access to public services.

Unfair rent rises + budget meeting shambles

On a wet Thursday 29 February Friends of Queen’s Market, their supporters including the Stratford Market Village traders held a demonstration at the Old Town Hall against rent rises that are due to increase at Queen’s Market by around 6.5%. “It’s well over inflation and we haven’t seen any improvements nor benefit to the market traders” said one longtime trader at Queen’s Market.

FoQM were there to also show solidarity with the Stratford Market Village traders who had spent months without a job as their family businesses was forcefully closed, where meat and fresh goods perished having not been allowed access.

The Mayor of Newham begun the budget meeting somewhat blaming the public gallery and their political oppositions for all sorts including for sending Tweets (!). Like most Council meetings these days they are full of endless platforming of the Councillors, and it was very boring for most people who attended. The public were only able to speak for a few minutes each, and the frustration overspilled. Newham is one of the poorest boroughs in UK with families experiencing adverse poverty, so naturally the expenditure and public budget affects these communities acutely. There were to be cutbacks in spending and public services. Where local people were given hardly any chance to speak, the Council decided to eject the public gallery from the budget meeting. An FoQM member witnessed hard-handed aggression from the security guards against visitors, including one person who said that their wrist had been twisted by the security.

“We are not even allowed to witness democracy in Newham without being treated like criminals”, said a local resident whose first time it was to a budget meeting.

Following the meeting, we are told that a few local activists were arrested under what sounds very much like false allegations. FoQM saw no major disruption at all, nor targeting of any individuals, instead the public gallery witnessed a sitting Councillor riling up the audience each time they got up to speak.

Photo above: LIGHTS LEFT ON at Stratford’s Old Town Hall while local people have to suffer from cutbacks to public services and increase in energy bills.

Photo above: Campaigns join forces to send a message of NO CUTBACKS. Any budget shortfalls will affect the Newham’s hard-working communities the most.

During the cutbacks to Newham public budget, we hear that certain public representatives will be getting an increase in their wages. Have you looked into Newham’s books lately?

Olympics “Legacy” means closure of local businesses

Newham Council-backed private enterprises have once again demonstrated a preference for enriching the affluent over supporting local family-owned businesses. The beloved Market Village, situated within the Stratford Centre, abruptly closed, leaving traders in financial ruin, with only one hour’s notice!

Local shopkeepers were left dismayed as their livelihoods and family enterprises were seemingly disregarded by Newham Council, who we are told had initially leased the land where Stratford Centre stands to private entities. Later, Groupe Geraud (GeraudUK) took control of the indoor market stalls within the Market Village (formerly Inshops). Then Stratford Markets Properties Limited took control, and now it turns out that the poor traders have to negotiate with Unex – what a winding fiasco!

Despite the bold claims made by the Geraud UK group on their website, their ability to manage a small shop in the East End of London came into question.

One resident expressed their disappointment, stating, “It’s one of the few places I frequent in the centre because of its focus on local people and small businesses. There are East End community cafes, not just faceless chain stores. I used to go for my (Chinese) curried chips, buy books in the African shops, household items and my weekly supply of fruit and meat. The traders were always friendly. The closure of Market Village has made Stratford Centre increasingly dull, and I’ll be reducing my shopping there.”

For further details, read the Newham Recorder story here: https://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/news/24046578.stratford-centre-confirms-market-village-set-close/

ITV coverage: https://www.itv.com/news/london/2024-01-19/stratford-market-traders-shut-out-of-their-businesses

Time Out: https://www.timeout.com/london/news/this-popular-indoor-market-in-east-london-has-been-forced-to-close-011724

BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-68007233

To find out more about Geraud UK or to make a complaint, visit their (slick) website at: 

https://www.groupegeraud.co.uk/

Be warned! Privatised entities give the impression that traders are safe, but the recent appalling mistreatment of traders at Stratford’s Market Village proves that any kind of privatisation means that responsibility will be passed down to others, and soon traders will be left with next to no rights.

We are told by traders that certain local Councillors have been listening to the traders and trying to help but have been left with nowhere to turn. Where the land is private, no safety is guaranteed, as the big boys make the cash for themselves at the expense of the small traders. If you want to hear the latest on how the Council has responded during this forced displacement, email sabia.kamali@newham.gov.uk

You can sign the community’s petition here: chng.it/5zrdNTCn

Some kind of OLYMPICS LEGACY we have in Newham!

Images (above): a 2-paged letter from the Mayor of Newham that make contradictory statements including that it’s in their “…interest is to protect the livelihoods of local traders…” – well, not for Queen’s Market where we’ve been given just 2 options (not voted for by us), both include unaffordable luxury flats and demolition of the market !

Disruption begins: traders and shoppers kept in the dark over scope of works

Happy New Year – but sadly not for us here in Newham!

It appears that the Good Growth funds that were due to improve the market after decades of neglect and managed decline are finally taking place in the market, but traders, shopkeepers and shoppers say that they have been kept in the dark about timelines and when works will be completed satisfactorily. Huge sections of the market have been cordoned off causing disruption, and hardly any workers are on site!

“This really impacts my stall because I cannot bring bulk goods into the market using the usual forklift. It makes our lives difficult, and that for the customers too” said a long time trader.

Another trader said to us: “Where it’s been blocked, there’s no clear signs to say that the market is open. It sends out the wrong message”

The Good Growth Fund from the Mayor of London’s office was secured to spend £millions on refurbishment to the market while Newham Council topped up the fund.

Photograph (above): a notice in the flashy new Markets Inspectors office appears to show a plan but with no dates or timelines. Will the works take months or years? We are none the wiser…

Local people and traders want to see the following:

  • A full scope of works with clear timelines when works began and when it will end
  • Improved communication with shoppers, the traders and between decision-makers
  • Improved signage to signpost customers from the different entrances into the market
  • More space between walkways and areas that have been cordoned off
  • Free toilet access for all traders: presently the traders have to pay each time they use the new toilets that were paid for by our taxes via the Good Growth Fund
  • The main person/ public servant to contact: presently there’s a Green Street team, One Source (a corporate wing of the Council) and the Market Inspectors office (usually quite rude and aggressive), so people are left confused by all of these “pass the buck” style roles
  • Compensation for trade lost: traders are experiencing difficulties and loss of trade – will they be compensated fairly?

Newham Council say that they have spent around £3million on their Newham “co-create” website and other forms of public engagement but now local people are questioning whether the ideas given in the early stages have made it into these plans for the market, or was it all a waste of time-?

Photograph (above): public signs are barely visible while the Council’s real intention to demolish the market is laid bare

Traders and shoppers have always said that they want no demolition and a robust roof, clean and decent floor and there was promise of underground electrics, but will these transpire into the latest plans – nobody knows!

For any budding investigative journalists out there, maybe you can find out more about how decisions are made inside Newham Council….

Gallery (above): sections of the market cordoned off with no clear signage or plans of what’s going on. Traders are squeezed while Newham Council continues to keep locals in the dark.

Coming up: Right to Food rally at Queen’s Market on 23/09 @ 2pm

#RightToFood is saying enough is enough and demand that London’s food is affordable and the right to food is enshrined in the law. The pressure group are holding a rally on SATURDAY 23rd SEPTEMBER 2023 from 2PM at QUEEN’S MARKET in Upton Park, Newham. JOIN US!

This week the Friends of Queen’s Market (FoQM) handed in a 6k petition to Newham Council. You can see the video here with Sharon Noonan-Gunning from Right to Food speaking passionately for the cause: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uW3MkTxDuoI&t=2s

Further info about Right to Food: https://twitter.com/RightToFoodLDN

6,000+ public petition handed to Newham Council

After months of collecting signatures and hearing views on why the market is important to local people, Friends of Queen’s Market (FoQM) handed in a public petition that had reached over 6,000+ to Newham Council.

Latest statistics show Newham as the most diverse borough in the United Kingdom and the popular historic street market, Queen’s Market in Upton Park is again under threat.

“The devil is in the detail” says a member of FoQM, “Newham are making plans behind closed doors while they say something very different to our faces. The misinformation is clear. We have had sitting Councillors not knowing what their own Council officers are planning behind the scenes.”

Newham Council is accused of digitally excluding huge swathes of the local diverse community who rely on the market for cheap, affordable and culturally-appropriate food, cloth and clothes. The Council have been accused by locals of ‘managed decline’ of the market, of exercising a hardline gentrification agenda and for privatisation of public land with minimal scrutiny.

During the global Covid-19 pandemic Newham Council launched an online “Co-create” engagement platform that made many claims and promises, but has now offered local people just two options on the future of Queen’s Market: both options include demolition of the market in some form. Decisions were made behind closed doors with minimal “co-creation” taking place.

On Monday 18th September 2023 a 6,000+ petition was handed into Newham Council during a Council meeting. During the demonstration held outside East Ham Town Hall campaigners shouted “Hands off Queen’s Market”, with support from London-wide campaigns like the refuse workers and Right to Food.

The majority of the Council meeting consisted of hours of discussion about rubbish and fly-tipping.

Video above [10:26]: A short video from a local campaigner who attended the public demonstration on Monday 18th September

Gallery (above): FoQM arrive in force at Newham Town Hall in East Hall with the signed petitions at hand.

Incidentally, the location of the Council meeting changed last minute from Stratford to East Ham with little warning to us. And on Monday 18th September when we entered East Ham Town Hall we had to literally beg to be let into the public gallery to witness democracy in action The door guy was suggesting that we sit in a room with a TV screen (na, we can do that at ‘ome). We we kept waiting and eventually told “four, or possibly five” further seats could be made available to the public.

Photo (above): view of the public gallery (foreground: 3 rows of 5 seats) with what looks like lots of s p a c e.

Photos above (x 3): The Council meeting was almost solely discussing rubbish and fly-tipping, with some very strange conclusions being made, as if Newham residents themselves were to blame (!) Not that bulky waste collection use to be free for Newham residents not too long ago. Local people even voted to reinstate the free collections during Newham’s own Citizens Assemblies a few years back (complete u-turn). Maps (showing red blotches) above appear to show that fly-tipping has worsen within one year in Newham.

JOIN US to hand in 5,000 signature at Council meeting

Over 5,000 of you have signed a petition to demand Newham Council keep their HANDS OFF QUEEN’S MARKET and for NO DEMOLITIONS.

After months of endless stalls, the Friends of Queen’s Market have helped the local community hit their milestone of 5,000 signatures.

Collectively, we demand to be heard and not to be digitally excluded from through terrible pre-determined online consultations like the “Newham Co-create” website. We the community rely on the market for fresh affordable food for our health and wellbeing and for our families to survive during a COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS!

JOIN US ON THE DAY

We are meeting at: East Ham Town Hall, 328 Barking Rd, London E6 2RP

Date of hand-in: Monday 18 September 2023

Time: 6pm

Councillor Danny Keeling is due to hand in the report on behalf of the local community at 7pm when the meeting starts.

Gallery (above): FoQM and their supporters work tirelessly at a local stall to hear from real voices, real people and to get real signatures from the users of the market. FoQM believe that Newham residents and shoppers are being ignored in the Council’s decision-making.