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.}