Chats market hope grows

Chatsworth Road butcher Greg Shokoya.

Campaigners hoping to bring back a weekly market that vanished around 20 years ago have hailed the overwhelmingly positive response from residents and councillors as “hugely encouraging”.

Chatsworth Road Traders’ and Residents’ Association (TRA) carried out a survey as part of their campaign to bring back the defunct Chatsworth Road Market and held a public meeting on 30 April.

Around 120 people attended and participated in the debate. Most of the concerns raised were about traffic and parking; there were also some fears expressed about a new market causing gentrification, or eroding rather than enhancing the character of the high street. But a near-unanimous show of hands confirmed that, overwhelmingly, people were fundamentally in favour of a new market.

Local councillor Ian Rathbone said all nine councillors in the wards covering Chatsworth Road supported the market idea. He said: “Chatsworth Road serves one of the most deprived areas in the country – the Clapton Park and Kingsmead estates, and some of the people who live there are elderly and can’t go far. This is reflected in some of the concerns raised at the Chats Palace meeting – that whilst a market like Broadway Market has its place, people wanted to see good, cheap food available for all sectors of the community.”

Commenting on the market proposal, Greg Shokoya, a butcher on Chatsworth Road, said: “Shop keepers don’t regard the market as a threat, but rather as an opportunity. I hope the market will be up and running in six months.”

Jean Smith, who lives on the Clapton Park estate and has lived in Hackney since 1958, said: “Lots of local people I’ve spoken to would like to see the return of a market to the area as it would provide easier access to a wider variety of goods. We are so remote from anywhere – there is only the 242 bus to the hustle and bustle of Mare Street, and the 308 to Stratford, which is quite a way. “

Louise Douglas, a local resident of seven years, said: “The people I have spoken to about the idea of a market think it’s a great idea: one elderly lady told me about how the old market used to be, selling fresh produce and fresh fish. Some local teenagers have asked why no-one has tried to bring back the market before now – they said it would be brilliant.”

“I think the main thing that came out of the public meeting was that people do seem to want a market, and that they want one that reflects and involves the local community – that it will be something for them.”

Ashley Parsons, a member of the TRA, “The really great thing is how many people have expressed an opinion on the market, whether for or against. The worst thing would have been to have been met with a wall of indifference. People round here really care about their community and their high street. That in itself is hugely encouraging.”

Commenting on the process of facilitating rather than directing community voices, Mr Parsons explained: “We’re in a process, rather than operating an ‘on-off’ switch. This may feel frustratingly slow to some, but we’re doing our best to make sure we’re doing the right thing by the community – that requires careful consultation and communication. As a developing voluntary group we’re sometimes moving slower than we’d wish, because we’re wholly reliant on goodwill and spare time.”

Two visions for the market seem to be emerging: one of an ‘aspirational’ market, the other of an ‘accessible’ market. However, campaigners hope that people may find that on closer analysis their views are somewhat similar, and centre around a community that they can remain proud of.

For more on the proposed market, visit www.chatsworthroade5.co.uk