Support the traders bid to manage the street market

09/03/2009

At the Brixton Market Traders' Federation (BMTF) open forum on Wednesday 4 March the first tentative steps were made towards setting up a Community Interest Company (CIC)  to manage all market stalls in Brixton town centre.

The meeting agreed that Stuart Horwood, Federation chair, John Gordon, Federation secretary and John Kester of Urban Lynx Regeneration will put together a proposal for the structure of the Community Interest Company, which will be put to traders for approval in April. The proposal will then be put to the Brixton Community Trust and if the Trust is happy with the proposal it will be put to Lambeth council at the beginning of June.

Friends of Brixton Market supports BMTF's bid and urge the council to give them every support they need. We believe that BMTF's plan offers the best future for the street market.   

Main points agreed at the meeting:

• Traders to elect the Community Interest Company board
• Trader representation on the board
• Full engagement between traders and the board
• Board meetings open to traders
• All accounts totally transparent
• Efficient and targeted use of resources
• Profits ploughed back into the market and local community
• Independent government regulation of the Community Interest Company
• This won’t mean extra-cheap rents and no enforcement!

If the proposal is accepted by Lambeth council, Brixton market will become the first street market in London to be managed by a Community Interest Company, and would become a standard - bearer for other markets to follow.

Councillor Steve Reed, the leader of Lambeth council, has given his full support for the principal of the street markets being managed by a Community Interest Company.

The BMTF will keep you informed of all future developments.

If you would like to comment, please email brixtonmarket@yahoo.co.uk

Stuart Horwood,

Chair, BMTF