Wednesday 18 August 2010

The People? Who Cares What They Think?

It seems it isn't just county councils that have a downer on successful businesses. London trusts are getting in on the act:
Thousands of people have signed a petition against the closure of a market’s food stalls.

Owners of Greenwich Market plan to slash the number of hot food stalls from 12 to five or six, and relocate them to the George II cafe area.
8,400 to be precise, but they expect that number to rise to 10,000. That's a pretty large chunk of the (presumably) voting population. Who could afford to ignore tha...

Oh:
...Greenwich Hospital property manager Jane Rowson said people had misunderstood the plans.

She said: “I think a lot of people who’ve signed the petition have been completely misled and think we’re closing down the food market.”

Ms Rowson added that shops and crafts stalls supported the move and said: “I’m not worried by those signatures.”
I wonder if Greenwich councillors are going to be quite so sanguine?

So, what's this all in aid of?
Food sellers say they were encouraged to come to Greenwich two years ago in a bid to create a place similar to London’s Borough Market.

But since the market management company changed hands, so the plans have also altered, with the aim of making it focused more on arts and crafts.
Hmmm, so they want to force out proven profitable businesses to take a flyer on people being just as keen, if not more, on arts and crafts instead? In the middle of a recession?

What you don't seem to understand, sweetie, is that even in a recession, people will still eat. But buy painting and knitted tea cosies and feather earrings?

Not so much...

4 comments:

AntiCitizenOne said...

Stick a market rate on the stalls and let it sort itself out.

Mark said...

Er.. Julia, I think you've been misled by the 'Greenwich Hospital' title.

'Greenwich Hospital' is nothing to do with the NHS- they are the landowners of the area of central Greenwich where the market is situated, and around which the 1-way system circulates. Ms Rowson is acting on their behalf, and the trustees have obviously had 2nd thoughts on what generates the most revenue.

'Greenwich Hospital' , is the name for the maritime equivalent of 'Chelsea Hospital' (ie where the pensioners live), and was originally a rest home for salty dogs who'd served in the senior service.

Henry North London 2.0 said...

There is the old Greenwich District Hospital Site which has been razed to the ground and has lots of hoardings around it... Maybe thats the Greenwich Hospital in question

I used to work there before it was moved to Woolwich

JuliaM said...

"Stick a market rate on the stalls and let it sort itself out."

Quite! Surely the best return on the investment is what they want?

"Er.. Julia, I think you've been misled by the 'Greenwich Hospital' title.

'Greenwich Hospital' is nothing to do with the NHS- they are the landowners of the area of central Greenwich..."


Ah, cheers. Main text altered.