We have tried to keep out of local politics especially anything to do with the various riverside schemes over the years.
However the Council is now consulting again and this time their plans include ideas to move the Twickenham farmers’ market. There are 3 ‘scenarios’ but all appear to want to move the farmers market to the riverside or some type of new town square. We do not feel we can support any of the options on the table as we have no guarantees what the new location may offer.
We do not believe the Council has demonstrated any case for moving the farmers’ markets and whilst we would love a purpose built site we have a number of major concerns about the proposed location. We will express our views to the Council but please take part in the consultation on line or at the Civic Centre.
Our concerns about the Councils ideas are:
- The farmers market works in its current location, if its not broken why try and fix it? No evidence exisits to say that sales will improve for farmers if the market moves. There is a real risk with moving any market that they fail.
- Tidal flooding means that the market will have to move frequently or be cancelled if it was held at the Riverside location, causing confusion for customers and damaging sales. The cost of regular moves would have to be considered.
- Exposed location, the winds off the river could pose a real danger to stalls in bad weather, market sites need surrounding shelter.
- Limited space for stalls, vehicle access. No space for stall parking and customer parking
- Disturbance to neighbours with stalls arriving to set up and customers shopping. Possibly the wrong activity for this tranquil natural location
- No good reason to move the market to this location. If they exisit the Council has not outlined them or provided a detailed argument
Thanks for your support. We will carry out more surveys at markets in coming months
On the plus side, we will have morrismen at the farmers’ market from 11am this Saturday, as part of the Twickenham Festival!
from the London Farmers’ Markets
Comments
The reason for moving the farmers' market is to free up the car parking space which it occupies so that more shoppers can come by car to do their weekly shop in the town centre, which is what residents wish to do.
Or so I am told - I don't use the market myself as I live in East Twickenham and shop in Richmond.
Chris Squire on 2011-06-16 13:48:20 +0000I've got to admit that putting a market in an area subject to tidal flooding does seem a bit...stupid? I'm more interested in duck eggs than ducks.
Other alternatives - on Twickenham Green, numerous schools, the old sorting office (temporarily), Station Rd car park, maybe even Orleans School or another school nearby?
Personally, I rarely shop there as I hate driving in to Twickenham.
David Swaddle on 2011-06-21 00:51:48 +0000There's a fairly high tide due on Sunday 3rd July around 5:30pm (4.9m at Richmond lock 16:17GMT) so if you pop down around then will be able to ascertain where it actually floods and how bad it might be.
Tides higher than that are less common but it will reach 5.2m on Wednesday 3rd August 6:30pm and 5.4m Wednesday 31st August 5:21pm. Times at Twickenham Riverside will be somewhat later.
Source: www.pla.co.uk/display_fixedpage.cfm?id=11&site=maritime
Ed on 2011-06-28 13:34:56 +0000