Traders crowd fund legal challenge over demolition of market
Traders in a mainly Latin American market have launched a crowd funding campaign to try to prevent its demolition.
El Pueblito Paisa is sited above Seven Sisters station, owned by Transport for London, where a redevelopment is planned.
The crowd funding campaign has so far raised £2,500 towards a £5,000 target.
Latin American traders predominate at the market, whose site is marked for redevelopment by property firm Grainger, which plans to build shops and flats.
According to the campaign page, objectors “won a test case to make equality part of the decision-making process”
This led to a section 106 agreement that is supposed to protect the market, relocate it temporarily and give it a future in the new development.
“But it is simply not being honoured,” the page stated. “Those who have complained about that are now facing reprisals. Latinos are being discriminated against. Market traders are being told they must give up their units.”
Traders hope to use law firm Bindmans to make a case “legally challenging the discrimination and harassment being faced by Latino traders [and] challenging Transport for London over its failure to prevent abuses of power by Grainger’s representative.”
They also want advice on whether the traders can directly enforce the section 106 agreement or market leases themselves.
A Grainger spokesperson said the company was aware of traders’ concerns, and added: “Grainger has made a number of commitments to the traders to provide certainty for their future including: free relocation to the temporary market and to the new market once established; the first three months in the temporary market rent-free and reduced rents thereafter; full advertisement on the move to the temporary market and back to the permanent market.
“We continue to work and engage with traders to address reservations about their future within the new Seven Sisters market.”
Grainger said work had started on construction of the purpose-built temporary market, 60 metres from the existing one.
Transport for London did not respond to a request for comment.
Mark Smulian
