KEEP BERWICK STREET MARKET INDEPENDENT

This is important_the social economy of #Soho is at stake_support independent future for #BerwickStMarket #gbhighst https://twitter.com/BerW1ckStMarket/status/774504416116375552

The meeting went ahead, raising more questions than answers. Despite serious local issues (demolitions, development, pollution, infrastructure, storage, parking, cost) and threat to the existence of the market, Westminster confirmed the privatisation is going ahead but would fail if they didn't get bids; another bidder dropped out last night. Meanwhile Berwick Street Traders Society has made an application for an ACV (Asset of Community Value) listing for the market and receipt of that application was acknowledged yesterday. The application was made by a professional planning firm, with support of a legal team courtesy of 38Degrees member who contributed to the fund. Thanks again. https://twitter.com/berw1ckstmarket

The last Westminster Council meeting before bidding closes is Tuesday 6th September 2016 5.30pm at 8 Berwick Street W1F 0PH RSVP straightaway to David Wilkins [email protected]

Big THANK YOU @38_degrees members @SohoGeorge Violet(89) and #BerwickStTraders who raised the legal fund now deposited with @smablaw https://twitter.com/berw1ckstmarket

Soho's last stand? Inside the battle to keep Berwick Street market independent https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/jul/25/saving-soho-battle-keep-berwick-street-market-independent #BerwickStMarket #Soho #Indy

Westminster City Council Privatisation of Berwick Street Market meeting Tuesday 26th July at 6pm
Chinese Community Centre, 2 Leicester Ct, London, WC2H 7DW (the tender has gone public today)

@BerW1ckStMarket
[email protected]

We are blown away by the generosity and support of 38Degrees members_thank you so so much for supporting our campaign. After one night we have half of our legal fund_that really is amazing.

Thank you. Robin.
Chair, Berwick Street Traders Society

Friday 15th July. Westminster write to us to say they are kicking off the privatisation process w/c 18th July. As we are not getting a response to our letters, we have no choice but to go legal.

Our story in a nutshell - BBC London News @BerW1ckStMarket _please SIGN and SHARE the PETITION https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VITPxRvKVdE

NEW SOHO SURVEY REQUIRES YOUR ATTENTION

Berwick Street Market is under threat. Traditional traders in fruit veg and flowers etc will not survive cost increases associated with privatisation, which will treble licence fees at a minimum. No one on low margins witll cope with this. What-is-more, WCC has not factored in storage and parking costs that are borne by traders through the private sector. These are significant costs. We must protect Berwick Street Market as a important piece of the fabric of Soho community and culture. Berwick Street is arguably the most vital community space in Soho. It has to be protected as a community asset and not become a leisure strip sold to the highest bidder. Locals depend on it for company and conversation. Here is your opportunity to let Soho know what's important to you https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/NYQXB77

LOCAL ACTION TO PROTECT MARKETS NATIONALLY

Kemp House (aka "the Knocking Shop" because of banging not because it’ll be a cheap hotel in a red light district) demolition is coming to an end. A reprieve from filth before pile-driving begins and time to consider a legal course.

We’ve raised £1800 of £5000 to cover costs of Berwick St Market being listed as a community asset. We’re hoping that an article in the Guardian, coverage by Market News (NMTF) and a campaign being run by a local ad agency (BBH) will drive this petition through 100,000 and into Parliament (if we still have one). With 100,000 signatures we can look to protect all markets.

The legal fund is currently our most significant challenge, we’ve two weeks to start the legal process in a spotlight of much anticipated media coverage and before trader licences expire on December 31st 2016. If you have fund raising experience or suggestions please share @BerW1ckStMarket

MONETISE OR COMMUNITISE

There are those who still think a private operator may be a good idea, but these people haven’t done the maths and will consign Berwick Street Market to history if they continue to ignore that facts of life. Soho rents are forcing businesses out, gentrification is pushing prices up and private operators cost money, and their costs sit on top of WCC costs. Operators are deployed to monetise not communitise. We maintain our position that privatization will not work and the risk is the loss of an historic market and a much loved community asset. Thank you for reading, please keep sharing this petition. Every signature counts. @BerW1ckStMarket

BERWICK STREET TRADERS SOCIETY

We are formalising the Berwick Street Traders Society (BSTS) today Monday 4th July to bring more organisational clout to us independent traders, Monday 4th July being independence day. The issuing of new trading licences, running to December 31st (who is going to replacing is on January 1st?) have provided ta breathing space to tidy-up loose ends after 4 months of campaigning. An application for the registration of a Community Interest Company (not for profit) is also in progress - when successful, it is our proposal that the CIC will become the vehicle for operating Berwick Street Market at cost (rather than 400% cost increases associated with private operators) that’s if WCC permit us to do the decent thing for the market and its community.

BRINGING BERWICK STREET MARKET BACK TO HEALTH

A proposal for Mayor funding for improvements to our crammed storage space has been approved. The intention is to lay new floor and ramp to silence the barrows and trolleys as they exit/enter, to reduce any impact of noise for local residents. We have to kick start the crowd-funding component quickly so it is important that we have the confidence that we’ll be here and permitted to continue to trade as a traditional market with a Soho twist into the foreseeable future.

Other good news;@ElizabethDbakes has been asked to supply Wholefoods with Vegan cakes from her stall on Berwick Street Market (how amazing is that) and @SohoDairy is shortlisted for the FSB London Start-Up Award. Meanwhile, restaurant owner Ali Asku of the Mediterranean Café has decided to offer delicious breakfast and lunch flat breads from a table at the front of his restaurant - if you can’t beat 'em, join 'em eh Ali? @BerW1ckStLondon

GERAUD & KERB (NO SUGAR)

Geraud wants to buy all central London markets and appears to be working with Kerb. Kerb, perturbed by lack of storage (sold off) and parking (sold off), is considering running trucks of branded stalls in/out of London to service multiple markets. 6am trucks and corporate "restaurant quality street food” stalls won’t impress locals. Kerb is also concerned about demolitions and suggest a 2 year pause for developments to end but the “Berwick Street Boar” (gale force blast caused by Kemp House tower) will end any restaurant quality aspirations fast.

Peter Beckwith (PMB) is said to have asked to buy the street and hit the roof when told it was ‘sold’. Other contenders have withdrawn due to works, storage and parking issues, apparently including Alan Sugar and his Tottenham team. Good to know we’re getting so much attention. Sad to agree privatisation economics don’t add up - only a not-for-profit approach has any chance of success @BerW1ckStMarket