Electric Avenue, Brixton - news and discussion

[Gramsci]

There's various criteria for THI schemes, but one of them is working with the local community - pretty much the first rule of regeneration. There's challenges with every scheme - but ideally, THI schemes try to address heritage/architectural/streetscape issues while having positive economic outputs and delivering community benefits at the same time. Can't be arsed looking it up but the full criteria are on the HLF website.

Ultimately though, the majority of buildings are privately owned - this is often where the problems occur.

Lambeth (who I assume are leading on the project) should be doing a better job communicating what the objectives are if you ask me, particularly given concerns about rapid pace of change in Brixton.

Thanks for this informative post.

From editor first post and questions to the Council the community benefits etc look like they are taking a back seat.

The Council should be consulting with the existing shopkeepers and market traders on how this should be done and how this grant funding should be used to protect existing small business and not just lining the pockets of the propertied class.

 

[colacubes]

Thanks for this informative post.

From editor first post and questions to the Council the community benefits etc look like they are taking a back seat.

The Council should be consulting with the existing shopkeepers and market traders on how this should be done and how this grant funding should be used to protect existing small business and not just lining the pockets of the propertied class.

I'm going to do a rare stick up for the council here. They have consulted residents, building owners and tenants of shops about this. I don't know about the outdoor market but I'd be surprised if they haven't. They consulted before the application went in to ensure there was enough support from the people it would affect directly.

 

[editor]

Lambeth Council proposal to increase size of Electric Avenue market stalls but reduce number of traders

PDF: http://futurebrixton.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/20150727-design-proposals.pdf

 

[SpamMisery]

The crumbling architecture could do with some attention. Electric Avenue could be stunning if restored (from a bottomless bucket of cash)

 

[CH1]

Lambeth Council proposal to increase size of Electric Avenue market stalls but reduce number of traders

PDF: http://futurebrixton.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/20150727-design-proposals.pdf

There don't seem many fruit and vegetables in evidence. The picture makes it look like Duke Of York Square (Chelsea/Sloane Sq).

 

[editor]

There don't seem many fruit and vegetables in evidence. The picture makes it look like Duke Of York Square (Chelsea/Sloane Sq).

Something strange has happened to the left of the photo too.

 

[Crispy]

I agree with the basic premise: The existing layout is cramped, and the other side of the street is just a rubbish tip. Stalls in teh middle of the road is the right approach.

I bet the bigger stalls will cost more

 

[trabuquera]

No. Just no.

Argh! Because what Electric Avenue *really* needs is to be changed into an emptier version of Northcote Road. Everything about that artist's rendering makes me shudder - tables? chairs? no actual commerce going on?

The current setup is certainly chaotic and a bit shabby-looking - and I like it like that. It's also the last vestige of a proper bloody street market of Brixton that is open to all. Obviously Lambeth are keen to get it cleaned out ASAP. Hate hate hate these plans and am happy to sign whatever's needed to stop them.

To offer something more positive and not just be wrecking: Electric Avenue's general tattiness could be better fixed by a) sorting out more efficient rubbish storage & collection and b) enforcing higher standards of repair & upkeep on the businesses in bricks&mortar premises - the hotchpotch of tacky plastic signage and broken-down awnings could definitely be improved.

 

[editor]

I agree with the basic premise: The existing layout is cramped, and the other side of the street is just a rubbish tip. Stalls in teh middle of the road is the right approach.

I bet the bigger stalls will cost more

It pretty much looks like the end of the market as a traditional, working class, cheap shopping experience to me.

Most of the old old traders won't be able to afford these rents (if they are raised) and that suggests we'll be getting more pricey goods on offer - the stuff that's going to appeal to the richer/hipper crowd.

There's no denying that something needed to happened to the market - it has been struggling for a long time - but given Lambeth's recent antics, I fear this is just going to be another exercise in gentrification/social cleansing.

More than happy to be proved totally wrong, of course.

 

[Belushi]

Everything is going to be 'artisan'..

 

[editor]

The current setup is certainly chaotic and a bit shabby-looking - and I like it like that.

Exactly. London's street markets are supposed to chaotic, lively places, full of bustle and noise, and not little islands of calm where people can relax and drink expensive artisan coffee.

 

[Crispy]

The current layout is literally impossible to navigate with a buggy or a wheelchair. I'd like to see the stalls in the middle of the road, but with a mixture of plot sizes.

 

[editor]

Reader comment on Buzz:

Welcome to NEW BRIxTON

I attended one of these market consultations, all of us stated we want the market left as it was, we like the diversity and hated POPBrixton as overpriced…
We liked the idea of new layout, there was no mention of reducing number of traders…..

How to kill off working peoples livelihoods.

 

[editor]

The current layout is literally impossible to navigate with a buggy or a wheelchair.

Come on: it may be difficult when it's busy but it's not "literally impossible."

 

[Crispy]

Ok, I'll downgrade to "very difficult most of the time"

It's a very inefficient use of the space.

 

[uk benzo]

Ok, I'll downgrade to "very difficult most of the time"

It's a very inefficient use of the space.

I navigate the market every Saturday with pushchair. At times it's a bit hectic, but that only adds to the market feel.

 

[Winot]

It's extraordinarily difficult with a pushchair. It's also *harder* with a small child and no pushchair. I'd hate to think what it's like for those with mobility problems.

If the market is going to compete with supermarkets, it's got to up its game in terms of ease of use.

 

[T & P]

I think the new layout will be beneficial to both the stalls and the shops on both sides of the parade. Let's just hope Lambeth doesn't try do a Railtrack on the existing stallholders.

 

[editor]

I think the new layout will be beneficial to both the stalls and the shops on both sides of the parade. Let's just hope Lambeth doesn't try do a Railtrack on the existing stallholders.

I think the illustration gives an idea of what they have in mind.

 

[BigMoaner]

it'll be market stalls, but selling farmers market and organic and cupcakes! run for the hills!

 

[boohoo]

Ok, I'll downgrade to "very difficult most of the time"

It's a very inefficient use of the space.

It's extraordinarily difficult with a pushchair. It's also *harder* with a small child and no pushchair. I'd hate to think what it's like for those with mobility problems.

It is clear that neither of you have done enough buggy pushing!!

My mum use to take me and my bother and sister into the market (which use to be busier) with no problem (although she did lose my brother once).

 

[OvalhouseDB]

I'm pretty sure that this is the bid that the Chair of the Street Market Traders Federation has been very much involved with, and he is well capable of making his members' needs known, so hopefully the real life version will be a recognisable improvement to the market rather than a fantasy version in which Iceland is re-modelled as a Parisian side street and there are café tables atop the pop-up urinal.

 

[ViolentPanda]

No. Just no.

Argh! Because what Electric Avenue *really* needs is to be changed into an emptier version of Northcote Road. Everything about that artist's rendering makes me shudder - tables? chairs? no actual commerce going on?

I remember a time when it was pretty hard to navigate the market side of Northcote between 7am and 6pm Monday to Saturday, it was so busy, and so many of the shops on the road had goods for sale out front, as well as in their establishments.

The current setup is certainly chaotic and a bit shabby-looking - and I like it like that. It's also the last vestige of a proper bloody street market of Brixton that is open to all. Obviously Lambeth are keen to get it cleaned out ASAP. Hate hate hate these plans and am happy to sign whatever's needed to stop them.

To offer something more positive and not just be wrecking: Electric Avenue's general tattiness could be better fixed by a) sorting out more efficient rubbish storage & collection and b) enforcing higher standards of repair & upkeep on the businesses in bricks&mortar premises - the hotchpotch of tacky plastic signage and broken-down awnings could definitely be improved.

Lambeth council probably prefer the idea of a Mediterranean-type Piazza to the quotidian normality of a better-functioning and tidied up market-as-is.

 

[cuppa tee]

Lambeth Council proposal to increase size of Electric Avenue market stalls but reduce number of traders

PDF: http://futurebrixton.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/20150727-design-proposals.pdf

is this money from the mayor on top of the lottery cash mentioned in the op ?

 

[editor]

Say goodbye time-honoured, tradition-rich market stalls, say hello to bland, anytown plastic gazebos.

 

[ViolentPanda]

The current layout is literally impossible to navigate with a buggy or a wheelchair. I'd like to see the stalls in the middle of the road, but with a mixture of plot sizes.

TBF though, accessibility for buggies and wheelchairs is a troubled issue in very many places, not just in street-markets. I just wish to fuck planners would pay more than a nod to it.

 

[ViolentPanda]

I think the new layout will be beneficial to both the stalls and the shops on both sides of the parade. Let's just hope Lambeth doesn't try do a Railtrack on the existing stallholders.

If Lambeth have looked to what neighbouring boroughs have done (Wandsworth having shrunk the number of most of its' markets' pitches as well as the physical size of the pitches, and Southwark having been at war with East Street traders for a couple of years now over proposed "improvements" to pitches), then a "Railtrack" is more likely than not.

 

[superfly101]

Something strange has happened to the left of the photo too.

It's the alleyway/archway to Argos so... Electric Lane right - cut through to Overground Station left.

The Boots/Iceland picture is the 1st one in the pdf file denoted by the fact BOOTS is on the shop on the right.

 

[friendofdorothy]

It is quite cramped between the stalls and shops and its only takes a queue /mobility scooter / trolleys / buggies to cause quite a jam even on a quietish weekday afternoon. Plans look reasonable in many ways.

If you have ever been on electric ave when the bin lorry comes all the way down it squeezing past /touching the back of the stalls - going beep beep beep and flashing lights - its quite scarry and claustrophobic presume thats the only reason the stalls are to one side. It would be more plasant for everyone if rubbish could be could be collected differently. Using over half the street for the piling up and collection of rubbish does seem like a waste of space.

BUT - I love the market, particularly the cheap fruit & veg, and would hate to see anything that would make it more difficult or more expensive for the traders. I read Lambeths assurance about seeking funding and not passing the costs to the traders with cynicism. I don't trust Lambeth at all now. Will have a chat to some of the stall holders when I'm shopping in the next day or two, to see what they think.

I don't want to see even more places for people to sit about at tables eating and drinking, theres plenty of other places for that, they will only get in the way of my shopping.

 

[BigMoaner]

love all the coy and wacky squiggly line drawings, like something out of a sickly indie film. "ohhh aren't we so different, we draw our town pictures like a 3 year old." fuck off.