Chapel Market traders face a hike in their rent despite the Council’s failure to provide adequate electricity supply.
Stallholders, who pay £57 a week, are furious at the £5 rise in rent as there has been no significant improvement in the facilities available to them.
Broken electricity cables in the market have led to a decline in the number of stalls, with a large number of food sellers relocating to other markets due to the unreliable electricity points.
Stallholder, George Norcross, said: “It’s diabolical. We’ve got no electricity but we’ve been paying for it. We’ve been waiting for the Council to get it fixed for at least 10 months. It’s driving stallholders away. Every time we ask the council when it will be fixed, the Council refuses to give us an exact day.”
Peter Adamides, Chairman of the Chapel Market Stallholders’ Association, has been involved in lengthy discussions with Islington Council over the increased rate and obtained a postponement of its introduction until April 1st.
He said: “Why should stallholders pay more money for a worse service than 10 months ago? It’s unreasonable to expect us to be happy about this. The electricity cables are dangerous, people can easily trip on them if they’re not careful, it’s really not safe. The only explanation we have been given for the price rise is that the Council wants to balance its books and that’s why they are charging us more. We haven’t been told why the electricity is taking so long to sort out though.”
Brian Roberts is one of the few remaining food-sellers at Chapel Market and says the only reason he is still in business is because his electricity supply is still working. He said: “We’re one of the few stalls in action. Vehicles drive down here at night and damage the electricity boxes. To be honest the supply boxes aren’t built for this environment and it’s really affecting people’s ability to make a living. How can you run a business without electricity?”
Type rest of the post here
Tuesday, 13 March 2007
Traders face rise in electricity bills
Thursday, 8 March 2007
BUSINESS - Focus
Mark Sainsbury owner of Moro restaurant, talks to Dominic O'Neill about success, Starbucks and Exmouth grunge
Why did you decide to open a business in Islington?
We liked the people in the area. There were less suits, and more creative, design-orientated people. It had a certain edge.
This year marks Moro’s tenth birthday. What was the area like when you first opened?
When we moved here, Exmouth Market was pretty run-down. Every other shop was either closed down, or closing down. It was pretty grungy.
What was the secret to your success?
We like to think we are a little different. There is no other restaurant like us. If you’re doing something that’s a little bit different, you’re not ripping people off, and you’ve got happy staff - those are the three crucial elements to a successful restaurant. If you add into the equation a great location, you’re pretty much there.
What is the situation now? Is Islington still on the up?
Five years ago, Exmouth Market itself was on the crest of wave of success. There was real hype about it. People have got over that now.
People are still moving to Clerkenwell, and the residential population is growing. But nowadays, it’s becoming a bit of a hard grind. Retailers especially are having a very hard time.
What has made things more difficult for business in your area?
There has been a big change in the rent. The likes of Caffè Nero, Starbucks, and Subway have really pushed the rents up. It’s a nightmare.
What can you do to get round these problems?
When you can’t compete on scale, you can compete by going a bit more niche, a bit more specialist, a bit more local. There are inherent advantages to being small. Paying attention to detail is easier when you’re small, and that is very important.
What are your plans for the future?
I have already opened a hotel, and we sell cookery books. I hope one day to do a members club. I like the idea of doing a Tapas Bar too. I have lots of spin-off ideas. Diversity is the spice of life.
BUSINESS - Traders vow to fight Upper Street sell-off
By Elena Egawhary
TRADERS on Upper Street whose shops are being sold by Islington Council have vowed to fight against the decision.
The parade of independent shops which runs between Islington Fire Station and Cross Street are just some of the 247 properties included in a portfolio about to be sold to a property developer for £45 million.
In a process that has been described by many of the Upper Street shop owners as unneccesarily complicated, traders have been given the option of buying their property from the council if they can match the price offered by the developer.
But, owners can only bid for their property based on an estimated value, and so do not know how much to offer to match the developer. Traders must also provide evidence of their financial standing if they wish to be successful in their bid.
Jason Delf, owner of the Chest of Drawers furniture shop in the parade, said: "We welcome the fact that the council has decided not to have sealed bids, but we really feel they should be doing more to ensure that the process is transparent and clear and not open to corruption.
"Evidence of our financial standing will go to the council as well as the company they have contracted to manage the site. We simply feel that this process cannot guarantee that our financial details will remain confidential from a future developer."
Traders believe that if they are not able to buy they will be forced out by a new landlord, and independent shops will be replaced by more profitable and financially reliable stores.
Mr Delf said: "One doesn't have to be a genius to work out that a developer is most interested in profit. The reality is that there is huge pressure to increase the rent and that chains such as Starbucks provide a better return and security then independent businesses like ours."
Danny Williams, of The Salvation Army charity shop, said: "It's sad that this is happening. there's a real community spirit amongst the shops here."
Many of the independent shops have been trading for over 20 years on Upper Street and have developed a loyal customer base.
Ben McManus, joint owner of Diverse Hair, said: "We're making our customers aware of the implications of the council's decision, and asking them to write to their councillor. We're in the lap of the gods at the moment.
"The council have got us over a barrel," he added. "The sale of these shops will affect a huge number of people and they should be informed of what is happening."