Ridley Road Market: Council survey sparks fears over gentrification
Ridley Road Market is famous for its fresh fruit and veg
A council survey asking how Ridley Road Market can be improved has led locals to voice concerns over gentrification.
The survey was sent out to residents and traders within half a kilometre of the thoroughfare and includes questions such as ‘How satisfied are you with Ridley Road Market?’ and ‘What would encourage you to visit the market more often?’.
But the questionnaire faced a backlash on social media, with the owners of Hackney Central café Pacific Social Club calling it a “sure sign that those lovely developer lads are planning a new bit of progress down our favourite little street”.
The Town Hall sent the same survey out for five other markets – Broadway, Chatsworth, Well Street, Hoxton Street and Kingsland Waste – but said none of them are “under threat”.
A spokesperson said the council wants residents to help it develop an “individual business plan” for each market, which could include “new stalls, more traders and new signage”.
Ridley Road resident Katrina Berry said in an Instagram post: “Hmmmmm. Survey from Hackney Council about Ridley Road Market through the door this morning. Don’t you dare get rid of this gem in the name of gentrification.
“Sixteen years of living in this wonderfully diverse neighbourhood has been fed by the fruit and veg of Ridley Road and when things started getting trendy and tarted up in 2008 I always said that if Ridley Road and the Turkish restaurants go, I go.”
A user called seakermusic replied: “Got the same one and feel the same! If that market goes it will be a sad, sad day.”
Pacific Social Club echoed their concerns on its Facebook page: “Hackney Council has started a consultation process about the future of Ridley Road Market, which is a sure sign that those lovely developer lads are planning a new bit of progress down our favourite little street.
“Please fill in this very quick survey and give a little love to our market and traders. I know we all really need sourdough pizzas and oat flat whites and all but a full, family weekly fruit and veg shop for the same price as one pizza gets our vote.”
A spokesperson for Hackney Council said: “We are surveying market traders, local businesses and residents living within a half-kilometre radius of all of our markets, not just Ridley Road, as part of our Markets Strategy.
“The aim is to gather feedback from the residents about what they are looking for in a local market – we will collate all the responses and work with each market to develop individual business plans. Improvements could be things like new stalls, more traders, new signage, marketing to get more customers etc.
“Ridley Road Market is not under threat, we want it to grow and thrive as we do all our markets.”
An upcoming exhibition by local illustrator and campaigner Lucinda Rogers, called On Gentrification, explores the changing face of Ridley Road Market.
Year 5 pupils from nearby Princess May primary school are also embarking on an art project in November which will see them illustrate their thoughts on Ridley Road.
Firstly I would like to see the results of the latest health and safety report of Ridley road market.
As a health care worker I am always on the lookout for health and safety hazards when I am out and about.
I am of the opinion that Ridley Road Market is a potential health hazard. I know it is an area where locals can obtain their fruit and veg, but I also notice there are little or no hand washing facilities for the stall holders serving the customers even sanitised wet wipe would be good. This is one of the principle reasons why I cannot shop in open markets.
The stalls are well laid out but am genuinely reluctant to enter the covered shops lining the street, because they look so unattractively displayed which is a shame because I am sure they have some really interesting items at good prices on offer.
I am Jamaican and gentrification is really the dog whistle for removing every trace of the previous occupants of that area who were predominately Afro-Caribbean. We are not that stupid. Ridley Road has the potential to have the buzz and vibe of Camden, Brixton or even Covent Garden which would be wonderful. The new developers who do not respect us or the local population of Ridley Road would be making a mistake to overlook our requirements totally, Improve the area by giving it a good deep clean and gentle facelift but refrain from removing the character. You don’t want to throw the baby out with the bath water, do you?
What the survey probably fails to consider is the views of the many Ridley Road customers from outside the borough who regularly shop at the market for its wide range of world produce.
we are always being lied to by politicians. Suggest, what retribution can we have if Ridley Rd (& the other markets) become gentrified like Broadway Market? would like to suggest the ballot box, but Hackney is a single party borough, so no hope there.
The Council should have asked all the market users that they could find to contribute to this survey, not just the very few people within half a kilometre of Ridley Road. It wouldn’t be difficult to achieve and would give a much clearer picture of what would help – and what would damage – the market.
Can the Citizen perhaps get hold of the survey and help open it up to other locals who depend on and are seriously concerned to avert any tampering with Ridley Road market?
This need not be a problem and certainly isn’t limited to street markets. Nobody can guarantee that fruit and vegetables have been properly washed and kept immaculately clean, no matter whether they’re being sold on markets or in shops. Just make it an invariable practice to wash all fruit and vegetables anyway.
Cleanliness is therefore no reason to avoid shopping at open markets, which manage almost entirely to avoid using plastic packaging. Compared to supermarkets, street markets are massively more environmentally friendly. They need and deserve active support from everyone who lives in, passes through or visits their locality.