Work and Money

A meeting to discuss a planning application to build over a market area in Tottenham has been postponed hours after the Mayor stepped in.

Wards Corner indoor market

Mayor for London, Boris Johnson urged Haringey Council to review proposed plans for the re-development of Wards Corner which joins Seven Sisters Road and Tottenham High Road.

The decision was made by the developers just 24 hours before the planning meeting  was due to take place on 24th July.

Sketch of redevelopment at Wards Corner

Developers Grainger PLC in partnership with The Bridge New Deal for Communities and Haringey Council want to build 197 new homes, shops and restaurants on the site.

Built in 1902 Wards Corner is a building which is believed to house the largest Latin American market in England. Pueblito Paisa market has 60 stalls and is mostly run by London's Colombian and Peruvian communities.

Mayor intervenes

The Mayor said: "I am appealing to Haringey Council to stop the proposed demolition of the celebrated Pueblito Paisa market in Seven Sisters.

"This much loved market is vitally important to the Latin American community and home to many local traders. I was impressed by the magnificent range of products and services on offer when I visited the market earlier this year.

Lagu Sukumaran

"The council are treating us with disdain and have not listened to us. There is no provision for a market in the current Grainger scheme."

Lagu Sukumaran, Wards Corner Community Coalition

"The proposed re-development would pull down the market and only offer space to a handful of people, which is unacceptable. I want the Council to urgently review this proposal and put the livelihood of the traders and the thousands of locals who rely on this market at the core of their decision."

The planning application submitted to Haringey Council’s planning department in February this year was the culmination of over four years work by Grainger plc and a number of other organisations.

The Developer

A spokesperson for Grainger Plc said: "We note the comments from the Mayor regarding the retention of Seven Sisters market.  Haringey Council and Grainger have agreed to allow for further consideration of how best to bring forward these important regeneration proposals.

"To allow these discussions to take place the decision has been taken to defer the current application."

The Traders

The postponement of the meeting and the Mayors intervention follows an active campaign from locals.

Traders have formed the Wards Corner Community Coalition (WCC), to fight the planned proposals.  The WCC are also supported by 10 local resident associations including Haringey Federation of Residents Association.

Although pleased about the postponement the WCC are furious that a giant billboard poster outside Wards Corner which cost £560, has been painted over.

Wards Corner billboard painted over

Lagu Dukumaran of the WCC said: "We were in complete shock, it's criminal damage. We are looking into this.  One belief is that the owners may have painted over it in error."

The WCC's fight continues.  Lagu said: "We have proved that Unity and passion can win Corporate Money.

"The council are treating us with disdain and have not listened to us.  There is no provision for a market in the current Grainger scheme.  So not only are our livelihoods at stake but an ethnic community asset is being destroyed along with a lovely building."

The locals have their own plan which includes flats and a cinema, whilst retaining the market.

Haringey in discussions

In response to the postponement a spokesperson from Haringey Council said: "The council received notice from Grainger that it wished to defer its planning application."

You can view the plans for Wards Corner at a permanent exhibition at the Marcus Garvey Library, Tottenham Green Library, 1 Phillip Lane, London, N15 4JA.