Politician plays cheeky stunt in Broadway Market ‘closed road’ row
Sign of the times: the 'defaced' notice at Broadway Market. Photograph: Andrew Boff
A local politician cocked a snook at Hackney Council by defacing “misleading” signs – and has even boasted about his caper on Facebook.
London Assembly Member Andrew Boff cheekily blu-tacked his own notice to signs stating that Broadway Market was closed because of a cycling event tomorrow (Saturday).
In fact a neighbouring road is closed, and the market is open for business as per usual.
Mr Boff’s notice said that Broadway Market “brings £2 million a year into Hackney,” adding: “It will be open on September 22nd, despite Hackney Council’s attempts to take it over.”
The Conservative politician, who lives just off Broadway Market, told the Hackney Citizen: “I amended the signs to provide the correct information. I now note that Hackney Council have amended the sign to say more accurately that Pritchard’s Road is closed – it should be Cat and Mutton Bridge but that is more accurate than saying Broadway Market.”
Mr Boff’s somewhat tongue-in-cheek direct action came amid a row over the road closures, which some traders fear will harm business.
Town Hall neighbourhoods chief Councillor Feryal Demirci said: “Hackney Council received an application from the London Cycling Campaign for a temporary traffic order for a one-day event on the Cat and Mutton Bridge, next to Broadway Market, to celebrate European Mobility Week.
“The Council has approved this application. 95% of visitors to the shops and stalls in this area come by public transport, walk or cycle with only 5% of visitors to Broadway Market travelling there by car.
“Access to the area will still be maintained via routes such as Mare Street, Richmond Road and Queensbridge Road.
The proposed event is not part of a long-term plan to change the access arrangements and traders and market stall holders will be exempted from this weekend’s closure arrangements.”
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Mr Boff takes £60,000 of public money to go around playing Art attack? Surely you’re meant to be doing more for us than spending all your time on a Market which is doing brilliantly. Get lost and leave Broadway market alone, the market doesnt need politicians, it’s done fine without it for years.
Mark: I’d be happy to leave Broadway Market alone but as I live next to it, served on the committee which brings you the market since 2004 (including a stint of getting up at 6 on Saturday morning to put up the stalls) it might be a bit too much of a wrench.
Well done to Andrew Boff for the handwritten amendments! The misleading sign is yet another small example of Hackney Council’s hamfisted approach towards small, independent businesses in the borough.