There has been continued silence from Hammersmith and Fulham Council over its choice to block the reopening of farmers’ markets in Bishops Park and Ravenscourt Park due to concerns about Covid-19.
Traders are mentioned to be “devastated” and really feel that little clarification has been supplied.
The Bishops Park farmers’ market was based by Ross Spurrier in 2013 and sees 25 merchants arrange on Sundays.
His firm, RMS Markets, then launched the Ravenscourt Park version final September and it shortly turned a success amongst Hammersmith and Chiswick residents.
Mr Spurrier and markets supervisor Fiona Campbell discovered the choice significantly jarring as markets in Brook Green, Lyric Square, North End Road and Shepherd’s Bush have continued to commerce.
Pubs and eating places have additionally been inspired to put tables out on pavements.
The Ravenscourt Park farmers’ market opened for the primary time in September 2020
(Image: RMS Markets)
The council was approached for remark however there was no response.
“We don’t know why the council has determined this, we’re bemused,” mentioned Ms Campbell, 56, and who beforehand ran her personal cake stall.
“We’re small companies who’ve been unable to commerce for seven months of the final 12 months. Our merchants really feel really devastated.
“On January 11 they informed us they have been quickly closing our market, regardless of residents’ appeals. They then knowledgeable us on March 11 that we might reopen on April 17.
“Then, having excited all our merchants by considering they’d be going again to work, we bought an e-mail on April 10 to say the council has completely closed our market.”
The Chiswick resident continued: “The council has been speaking in riddles. But in an e-mail they mentioned that their Technical Assurance Group for Covid determined that every one concessions in parks ought to shut due to footfall and pressures on area.”
The e-mail, seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, states that ice cream vans and occasional carts are additionally banned from parks “till all Covid restrictions are lifted”.
The Government’s roadmap signifies that every one restrictions can be lifted by June 21 if infections charges stay low.
The council’s e-mail goes on: “We are additionally going to take this alternative to assessment the aim of the markets and develop a brand new set of outcomes for operators to ship, to meet the council’s priorities.”
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Ms Campbell mentioned she felt uncertain whether or not this meant the markets could possibly be refused permission to commerce altogether.
The choice comes after Pagg’s Cafe in South Park was closed down by the council in February. At the time, a council spokesperson mentioned: “We’re at the moment reviewing all our park buildings to be sure that they help the broader wants of the neighborhood sooner or later.”
Ms Campbell and Mr Spurrier have launched a web based petition calling on the council to reverse its choice.
They are additionally crowdfunding to assist pay for authorized charges, as RMS Markets hopes to problem the council’s choice in court docket.
They have sought assist from Robert Griffiths QC, who defended Hampstead meals enterprise La Creperie after it was issued with a closure order by Camden Council earlier this 12 months.
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