Just when you thought things were gathering pace on the relocation, one of the major players delivers a slap in the face. I'm referring, of course, to Greenwich Council's announcement that they probably won't allow the market to move temporarily to Cutty Sark Gardens (CSG).
Right from the start, CSG has been the preferred relocation site. It's big enough, not far from the original site, on the tourist route and adjacent to the existing retail area. A bit exposed, yes, but with a professionally designed structure in place of GSM's tent it should be viable.
This decision is a complete surprise and a significant kick in the teeth for everyone from Greenwich Hospital down. So what's going on? The council have been involved in the redevelopment decision-making process from the start, so why throw a spanner in the works now?
I reckon some bean-counter in the council has just figured out that they can make more money from other uses, so to hell with the market. Many of their decisions over the years have undermined the market's viability (relocating coach parking to the top of Greenwich park was a real killer), so they're clearly not fans.
In recent years their contempt for the market has become obvious - there now seems to be a market on at CSG every weekend. Presumably there's more money in those rents than the Hospital has offered so far.
- Greenwich Whistler
- Hi there. I'm the Greenwich Whistler and I'm the founder of the We Love Greenwich Market blog. Why am I doing this? Well, I've been a visitor to Greenwich Market for more than twenty years and I still visit the market often. In recent years I've become aware of a decline in the market – in its variety of quality goods, its energy, the mood of its traders and its atmosphere. External events have brought it low; internal attacks even lower. Its future is threatened by even more destructive forces. It may be too late, but I love Greenwich Market and I won't see it destroyed because I couldn't be bothered to try to save it.
1 comment:
Don't forget the general contempt that local government feels for the private sector! Publicly they support the market but privately they see the Hospital, GSM and traders as a thorn in their side.
The empire builders at Town Hall would be happy to see the current market wither, to be replaced by a council controlled rival area. They are particularly aroused by the bonanza of money and prestige that will come their way in 2012.
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