KEEP BERWICK STREET MARKET INDEPENDENT

Formal Complaint from Cllr Paul Dimoldenberg to Charlie Parker CEO Westminster City Council <[email protected]> https://twitter.com/BerW1ckStMarket/status/843550449080897536

@BerW1ckStMarket Just 2 weeks left on our trading licences which expire on the 31st March 2017_ no information coming from @CityWestminster we have lobbied all ward councillors hard only one is vocal @westend_one the others have fallen silent or been silenced, we've applied for permanent licences but WCC haven't responded to calls/emails for 3Wks, we've raised a 37000 petition online and offline_it has been swept aside, we've taken legal advice & expert opinion_we're acting on it @eugeneoregan to protect and revive "The most fabulous square mile in the world." Take a walk around the street markets of Soho... https://www.facebook.com/BritishFilmInstitute/videos/1548845988490888/?pnref=story

7 traders have applied for permanent licences. No permanent licences have been issued on Berwick Street for 10 years. Wish us luck.

The procurement process completed on 20th February 2017 and was meant to be followed by a meeting with traders 23rd February. It didn't happen. We have had no reply to our Freedom of Information requests as yet. No doubt there will be news this #Limbo

In a moment of light relief, traders celebrate Rina Rottondo's 91st birthday at The Ivy Soho Brasserie. Rina is Berwick Street Market longest living customer. At the age of 91 Rina still makes daily visits to the market to buy milk and flowers. The Ivy was delighted to provide a lunch for Rina and her guests on their opening night, 7th February 2017. Rina and traders are now planning her 92nd birthday. Where next? https://twitter.com/BerW1ckStMarket/status/829053025939501060

In the last two weeks four traders have crashed out of the market losing money. We have taken legal advice from a specialist barrister who has focussed on a review conducted by Westminster City Council prior to the privatisation announcement. We have also gained the support of a trader who lived (and died) through the redevelopment of Kings Cross. Information requests and clarifications are with Westminster...

All tenders for Berwick Street Market are now in, the window for clarifications has closed. Westminster City Council will now ruminate. Wait. At a WCC meeting last night there was a reshuffle, Cllr Daniel Astaire is no longer responsible for Berwick Street Market, Robert Davis has taken that responsibility.

Westminster City Council have rejected the application to list Berwick Street Market as an Asset of Community Value, because Berwick Street is a Highway. We will appeal.

3 "permanent" traders will lose their parking spots due to the development scaffolding and portacabin installations at and around Berwick Street Market. When that happens they will not be able to trade. Beefy, Jimma and Laecia. As reported on ITV London News, Beefy has already been hit, Jimma and Laecia are next. These are the longest serving Fruit, Veg and Flowers traders. It's obscene. We have requested permits to compensate. So far, Westminster City Council has not been able to help...

BRITAIN’S FAVOURITE MARKET Last day to vote. Please do. These votes help us to demonstrate our commitment to Berwick Street Market​, Soho, London W1 http://www.nabma.com/britainsfavouritemarket/

On Thursday 8th December 2016 Westminster City Council published a report triggered by our petition. The report was to be presented to WCC cabinet meeting Monday 12th December 2016. That report contained evidence that had been doctored to suit the purposes of its author. On Sunday 11th December we exposed this fraudulent behaviour and the doctored evidence, a significant letter, was changed but the remainder of the report remained misleading as intended by its author. WCC have apologised for the 'error' but not explained who changed the evidence or why. This is what we are up against. You can find the correspondence here. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/v6jl10lji3fx3fp/AADV0krB4refgexidv-A3Sv0a?dl=0

Westminster Cabinet Meeting to reject Berwick St Market petition in favour of privatisation. Public meeting Monday 12th December at 7pm http://committees.westminster.gov.uk/documents/b12859/Follow%20on%20Agenda%20Items%2012th-Dec-2016%2019.00%20Cabinet.pdf?T=9

Joanna Lumley Lights-Up @BerW1ckStMarket 6th December 2016
With Joanna Lumley, Soho Parish Primary Carol Singers and Charlie Wood AND Special Guests: Mr Burns_Waylon Smithers_Principal Skinner_Ned Flanders_Reverend Lovejoy_Kent Brockman in the form of The Harry Shearer. Please come raise a glass and mince pie to toast the beautiful, passionate and creative community of people called Soho. Please join us. Tuesday 6th December 2016 / 5.30pm https://www.facebook.com/events/387845814895075/

Ballad of Berwick Street, composed by Dai Watts and broadcast by Robert Elms, BBC Radio London on behalf of the Soho Community and Berwick Street Traders
https://soundcloud.com/daiwatts/the-ballad-of-berwick-street-market-on-robert-elms-show-bbc-radio-london

We have a 36,000 signature petition. Our Asset of Community Value application has been accepted for consideration by Westminster City Council. We won the TimeOut public vote. Please join us in celebration on the 6th December 2016 at 6pm @BerW1ckStMarket https://twitter.com/BerW1ckStMarket/status/797467241734373377