Hansard - role of street markets in providing healthy food

Written questions Monday, 19 February 2007

Anne Coffey, MP, to ask the Secretary of State for Health

(1) what steps the Department is taking to support and develop the role of local street markets in helping deliver its healthy eating policy;

(2) what assessment she has made of the potential role of local street markets in the Government's healthy eating strategy.

Written answer, Caroline Flint (Minister of State (Public Health), Department of Health)

The extent of evidence on the effectiveness of local street markets in the Government's healthy eating strategy is limited. Anecdotal information, where mobile units have been set up, suggests that they do have merit in deprived areas with low retail density.

To improve people's access to and raise awareness of fruit and vegetables, the Department has provided funding for community food initiatives in all primary care trusts (PCTs) from April 2006 as part of the 'Choosing Health' allocation to PCTs. These community initiatives followed on from the 66 Lottery-funded 5-A-day pilot initiatives. By working in different settings, including local street markets, these initiatives aim to make it easier for people to eat more fruit and vegetables and achieve their five portions a day.

[Click here for the Hansard text.]

Transport to street markets

[Excerpt from Hansard, 30/01/07]

Ann Coffey MP:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of possible measures to improve transport to and from local street markets to encourage sustainability.

Gillian Merron MP:
Responsibility for local street markets is for local authorities to consider as part of their transport planning work. The Department has issued guidance to them to assist in preparing their second Local Transport Plans. This asks them to consider a range of measures that will reduce congestion, improve air quality, and increase the use of public transport and levels of walking and cycling.

Local authorities are required to include accessibility strategies within their Local Transport Plans, which should include measures for addressing accessibility problems found within their area, particularly with regards access to healthcare, education, employment and healthy affordable food.

Message from an ex-Covered Market trader

Just to let you know that I have finished on the market now because I could not afford to stand there any longer. I was taking money from my Edgeley shop to pay the rent on the market.

Another stall is closing next week. He is also getting a shop on Edgeley. Another trader is looking on Edgeley as well , that will make 5 of us who has moved to Edgeley from the market.

The traders have been told that [Market restoration] work might start in July.

Town Crier for Stockport

Stockport now has a Town Crier and if you think you recognise that imposing figure it is our own Jim Clare from St. Mary's Church Heritage Centre.

He could be seen yesterday in the Market Place as well as the Merseyway Shopping Centre announcing to the populace of Stockport, that the Heritage Trust is putting on an exhibition in the Stockport Story Museum as from 30th January.

To advertise the Underground Stockport Exhibition, members of the Trust had a stall for the day in the Tourist Information Centre.

If you thought that the only thing that lies beneath the Town Centre is the Air Raid Shelter, then this exhibition will be an eyeopener to you.

Admission is FREE and there should be plenty to entertain the kids as well as adults.

(The superb Town Crier outfit was made by one of our committee members, Sue Foster.)

Lottery Grant Set To Transform Covered Market Hall

[Council press release]

This photo from 10+ years ago
shows how old some of the
'temporary' repairs are
Photo by Vernon.Hyde.

Stockport Council has been awarded a grant of £999,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to help transform the town’s historic Covered Market Hall.

The money will be used to fund the regeneration project which includes the following:

• Upgraded internal layout to improve circulation and stall visibility.
• Some two-sided trading units, opening to the inside and outside.
• Replacement of some low level boarding with glass to make the building more inviting and to reveal the businesses to passers-by.
• Changes to the floor surface to make it smoother and easier to clean.
• Improved access for wheelchair users.
• Background heating and control of ventilation, which will make the hall more comfortable for traders and customers.
• New food and café units which will comply with the latest hygiene regulations.
• A flexible area without permanent stalls to allow use for events, particularly in the evening. Most of the time this area would be occupied by demountable stalls.
• An interpretation area to explain the history and significance of the building.

A market trader has pointed that this press release has been quoted on the BBC site, click here. (See comment below.)

What's become of great market?

[Excerpt from Stockport Times' letters page 23/11/06]
On Saturday, I visited Stockport Market, I was shocked at the depressed state of it.

Years ago, my other half worked on Gresty's flower stall and I had a Saturday job selling shoes. The market, at that time, was a vibrant place. It was the heart of Stockport and appreciated and used by hundreds of people.

The Mile, Market Place 8/7/06
Photo by JayT47.

I love it because I felt the sense of its long history with its cobbles, stalls, cafes, pubs and the church at one end and the ghost of the missing castle at the other.

What on earth has happened to this great market? Many areas of the market are missing stalls and by 2.30pm on Saturday, a lot of stall holders were dispiritedly packing up because the trade was so slow.

Woolly greengrocer, 25/11/06
photo by Trevira.

What is the council doing to continually promote this wonderful place? Nothing, according to the stall holders I spoke to. The rents are high and the promoted continental market sited in the precincts, what a snub for the ancient site!

The market is a unique asset to the town. It should be given the status it has earned and deserves.

Whoever is in charge of market affairs, promotions, tourism and the council needs a big wake-up call.

What are the people of Stockport thinking of? Don't they have any loyalty or love for this special place for heaven's sake?

Maureen Roberts, Berwick Rd, Shrewsbury

Ghostly Figures Seen Around the Marketplace

Ghostly figures were seen passing through Stockport town centre on Tuesday night, and lights hovered above the ground.

No these were not supernatural phenomena, but a group of willing ghost hunters being led by Steve Cliffe on a guided walk around the Market Place and Underbanks.






After watching Constable Birch being shot in Loyalty Place (Jim Clare) the group moved on to mysterious tombstones and the depths of Stockport's Dungeon.



Thank you Steve, for a very enjoyable evening and a request was made for a repeat performance next year.

Award for super market

Rear Of Staircase House,
viewed from Shaw Fold, 11.04.04
Photo by A G 1.

[Excerpt from Stockport Times - 19 Oct 06]
Stockport Market Place has received recognition at a national award ceremony.
The redevelopment of Staircase House and Shawcross Fold has scooped the prestigious Best Practice Award from the British Urban Regeneration Association (BURA).
A spokesperson for BURA said: "This is a very effective refurbishment of almost-derelict properties and empty sites into an attractive new quarter which now boasts a rich mix of uses.
"Staircase House has become a major visitor attraction and the affordable housing is the first new housing built within the town centre for the past 30 years."

Merseyway Mini-Market

For the second week, there has been a market at the bottom of Bridge Street. It's not in competition with the medieval market, but an outpost and advert for it. The hope is it will make the large numbers of people who walk Mersey aware of the market and lure them up Bridge Street.
As I approached, I heard someone say, "Ooh! A market." So it is doing it's job.


To the right is a copy of one of the leaflets being distributed. Below is the view from the market down to its new outpost. A les tiring route is via the TK Maxx lift

Is it really successful? Well I didn't drawn up Bridge Street to the market. A market gazebo was placed halfway up the hill, to give punters something to aim for. The gazebo was empty and at an extreme angle, so looked abandoned rather than leading to an lively market. May be a string of wall pendants or bunting might be more successful.

See a previous posting for Cllr Sue Derbyshire's perspective.

Cultural Jamboree

This Saturday, one whole side of the historic market was dedicated to a Cultural Jamboree, which included ethnic food, crafts and community information. This was accompanied by a variety of entertainment including drumming, juggling and singing.

Meanwhile, Staircase House went global with food, temporary tattoos, arts and crafts.

Stockport History Walk

The Heritage Trust's contributions to the National Heritage Open Days, were four guided walks of Stockport's past.


Starting at St. Mary's Church in the Market Place, groups of thirty people were taken along the Underbanks, down Old Oak Yard,


shown the river and the site of Lancashire Bridge, and finished with the history of Castle Yard and the market area.



The turnout was exceptional and Kevin Dranfield and Jim Clare, who lead the walks were congratulated on doing a fine job.

Market Place news

The foyer of St Mary's church contains an informative exhibition , showing the findings of the recent survey of the building. On display are a number of information boards, plus some of the large pieces of masonary which were removed from the roof, before they fell down. The steps needed to make safe and restore the church are now clear. Hopes are being put onto gaining a Heritage Lottery Fund Grant to pay for it.
I don't know if the Trust has been asked to provide support for the application, but I am sure we would give any support we can to maintain this building. Not only do we use it for our Heritage Centre, we see it as a key part of the historic market place, as well as being a place of worship.
It crossed my mind, as to whether it would be timely to ressurrect our plans to remodel the church to make it better suited to host comunity events, enlarge the heritage centre as well as preserve the churches role as place of worship. But, for the moment at least, it is probably best to focus on the immediate needs of preserving the fabric of the church. Perhaps the restoration of the church will help raise the buidling's profile and there will be interest then in widening it's role.
At the other side of the Market Place, the Bezier winde degustation (wine tasting) seemed to have been a great success. Lan and I certainly enjoyed it and went away with a couple of reds. I hope this will be the first of many such events. They add to the appeal of the market, without detracting from the core buiness of the stalls.
By the way, when you next visit the market, keep a look out for Market News. It includes a free to enter quiz where you could win £20.

Council Executive discusses the Market

An "e agenda" of the 12 December is available on SMBC site, follow the link above. It includes documents submitted to the Executive. I have put the text of the papers relating to the Market as comments to this posting, but to view them in their original format, you can find them embedded in the "e agenda".

The good news is that they are talking about re-affirming their support for the Market and raising it's profile.
The bad news is that whereas Steve Burns has told me that he doesn't envision the Produce Hall closing as a market hall, nowhere do these documents contradict the Quarterbridge and New Market report.

The document ends:
RECOMMENDATIONS

It is recommended that the Executive:

1. Notes the summary contents and recommendations of the Quarterbridge and New Market Solutions reports.

2. Recognises the wider economic, social, environmental and tourism importance of the market, and in the light of this confirms its commitment to the market operation.

3. Requests that a detailed three year action plan be drawn up, based on the recommendations of the reports, and aiming towards a break even situation for the market by the end of the action plan period (2008/9)

4. Agrees to work towards securing resources for the future management/development of the market, in line with its budget making activities and priorities.


5. Notes the summary contents and recommendations of the Quarterbridge and New Market Solutions reports.

6. Recognises the wider economic, social, environmental and tourism importance of the market, and in the light of this confirms its commitment to the market operation.

7. Requests that a detailed three year action plan be drawn up, based on the recommendations of the reports, and aiming towards a break even situation for the market by the end of the action plan period (2008/9)

8. Agrees to work towards securing resources for the future management/development of the market, in line with its budget making activities and priorities.

Glass Umbrella HLF bid update

Last week we had to tell SMBC we could not support the Heritage Lottery Fund bid for the Glass Umbrella. We are in favour of investment in the long term future of the Market, but the plans lacked the confidence of the Market traders we identified various weaknesses to the plan which gave us reason to think it might undermine the commercial viability of the Market and not protect the Heritage of the Marketplace.

We have now been told that SMBC are going to delay the bid until January, during which time SMBC want to collaborate with the traders, the Trust and other interested bodies to produce a bid which can gain general support.

On 12 December, SMBC are going to debate a statement which would define their strategy for the Market. It is hoped that this will give a clear vision for the future.

This is an opportunity for the Trust and the public to be involved the process.

Quarterbridge Report - The Market

I have got my hands on the Quarterbridge Report, so I can reveal why the Council want HLF money. The Report criticises the Council for: lack of signs to the Market; the Stockport Masterplan is focused on the Merseyway and does not address the Market's needs; highway proposals do little to help the market; and the promotional budget for the Market is inadequate.

To view an summary version of the Report, click on the date below.

Market Traders Reject Changes

Stockport Council are seeking Heritage Lottery Funding to refurbish the Glass Umbrella. Readers of the weblog will be aware of my efforts to publicise the consultation process. I met with Steve Burns who assured me that two thirds of the Market Traders favoured Option 4.

Barbara Mulliner, a Glass Umbrella trader, wrote me arguing against the refurbishment. (See previous posting.) To back up her point, she has provided a list signed by 44 Market Hall traders showing that: 41 favour Option 2 (repair and maintenance only); 2 favour Option 4 (the HLF refurbishment); and 1 cannot make a decision on the details presented by the Council.

This gives the Trust a connundrum. We favour investment in the Glass Umbrella and worry that doing nothing but repairing the building will do nothing to counter a slow decline in the market. But what is the value of a plan that the Glass Umbrella traders are almost unanimous against?

Deciding the Trust's position on the Covered Market Hall

I spoke with Steve Burns on Friday and made clear the issues I had with the plans as presented at the exhibition:
the lack of evidence that thought had been given to market traders, inside and outside of the building;
the lack of evidence that thought had been given to how the Covered Market Hall relates to other buildings in the square;
the lack of publicity for the exhibition;
the placement of the exhibition at the back of the Produce Hall.

I was assured that these were points of presentation and that the Council is committed to ensuring the future of the Market and working with the traders.

He forestalled one of my questions, which would have been, why was Staircase House not used for the exhibition. Steve Burns explained that putting the exhibit in the historic Staircase House might have given the message that they were treating this as an exercise in preserving an historic building, when the objective is to ensure a future for the market.

I think I can safely say that the Trust is in favour of investment in the Market and in the Market buildings. We just have to be convinced that the plans promote the future of a vibrant and attractive market as well as preserving the long term future of the historic buildings.

Over the next two weeks, the Trust will compose a letter to the Council, setting out our position. Depending on our joint decision as to its contents, the Council may or may not find it useful support when applying to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Meanwhile, Trust members, shoppers, traders, blog readers, or anyone interested in this issue can leave comments here, or email me at stockporttrust@ntlworld.com. This weblog is here as a platform for the wide range of opinions that arise when promoting Stockport's heritage. We will take your opinions and observations into account as we draw up our response to the Council.

Who is to be consulted?

(From the Coucil's website)
EXECUTIVE FORWARD PLAN – KEY DECISIONS
SERVICE AREA: Environment & Economy
DATE OR PERIOD OF DECISION: November 2005
PORTFOLIO: Regeneration

Subject Area for Decision: To consider the development of Stockport market.

Objective/Outcome: To consider the current situation regarding Stockport market, to consider reports procured by the Council from Quarterbridge project management, and from New Market Solutions, procured by the local branch of the National Market Traders Federation (NMTF), and to agree a way forward for the market operation

Decision Maker: Executive

Who we intend to consult and how: Tame Valley Area Committee

So no consultation of traders, shoppers or Council Tax payers then!

By the way the next meeting of the Tame Valley Area Committee is 5th December, at the Town Hall.

Quarterbridge website

The following appears on the Quarterbridge website...

Quarterbridge were appointed by Stockport MBC to review the operation of their market's service operation and, crucially, support an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for assistance in refurbishing the Covered market hall. Stockport market has three elements - the Covered market hall, a separate Produce hall and a bustling Street market - but the historic Covered market hall has been the most problematic. This 1861 listed building needs some essential repairs but Quarterbridge undertook an operational analysis to demonstrate how its internal layout could be adapted at the same time to improve operational efficiency. These ideas were tested through consultation with the public, shoppers and traders and then embodied in a detailed brief to the Architects. Increased usage and public access to the Covered market will support the Council's major regeneration initiatives in the Markets / Underbank area and form the central plank to the HLF application.

Letter from a Market Hall trader

The Trust has received the following letter from Barbara Mulliner, a Market Hall trader...

STOCKPORT COVERED MARKET HALL

I have a business in the covered market hall and have been a trader at Stockport Market for 17 years.

I have seen the plans and read the Quarterbridge Report which was commissioned by the council and I know I speak for all the traders when I express my concerns at the lack of information and consultation with the Council.

There are currently four proposals for Stockport covered market refurbishment and whichever proposal the council adopts, it would be naïve to think they have not got an agenda to accompany each one. However, no indoor trader has received any information on how their plans will affect our businesses. I have completed three forms asking the same questions but to date I have received no reply. The questions we would all like answers to are the following –

1. If the market hall is to be refurbished is it going to be completed in phases or will the whole covered market be closed?
2. Where are the traders going to be re-located considering it would be totally inadequate for some businesses to trade from outside stalls?
3. Does the Council have a contingency fund to pay traders disturbance allowance?
4. What will happen to traders on the outside of the market hall if the indoor units are going to be opened up and able to serve from both sides, as the plans show.
5. The plans which are in conjunction with lottery funding and the Quarterbridge Report show the food hall being transferred over to the covered market hall. My unit happens to be one which on the new plans would be food along with quite a few other traders units. Where are the Council going to re-locate us? Do they intend not offering us another unit in the covered market as there will not be enough space to accommodate all the units currently there. If they close our businesses do they have a contingency fund which would enable them to compensate us?
6. How are the Council planning to select who will be eligible to apply for a new unit?
7. Will trading licenses be transferred over to leases?
8. Do the Council intend severely increasing the rents because the market will have been re-furbished, even though it won’t have cost them a penny as it will have been done with Lottery funding?

Why have so many questions remained unanswered by the Council?

I have spent 17 years building my business up, and there are numerous new businesses which have invested a lot of money in their enterprise. I know as traders we stand united in our bid to keep the market with similar units with a good variety of stalls. Re-furbish it by all means, but not without the consultation of the traders and the people of Stockport.

I trust you will take all my comments into account when considering your decision to give support to the Council, and hopefully you would consider supporting the covered market hall traders instead.
Barbara Mulliner
Unit 37, Covered Market Hall