Forum Topic

Consultation about a Farmers' Market in Ravenscourt Park

Please think carefully about whether to allow this commercial venture into Ravenscourt Park, which is a municipal open space. Municipal open space is supposed to be held on trust by the Council for the quiet enjoyment of residents for walking and playing games - with no or low charges.In January one third of Hammersmith Park in White City was effectively "privatised". A company called "PlayFootball" signed a contract with the Council to fence off and upgrade the old 5-a-side football pitches and pay the Council £70K pa for the priviledge. In exchange "PlayFootball" can charge users up to £90 per hour per pitch. Just one free football pitch (out of a dozen) will remain!Everyone knows that, having reduced the Council Tax year on year for over 4 years, this administration is desperate to find new sources of revenue..... such as this money-making initiative.I would expect the stall holders to complain about high rents, and the residents to complain that a large area of Ravenscourt Park was being made inaccessible by fencing or other construction work to supply services to the new market. If I were a potential stall holder I would be very wary of signing any long-term contract with Hammersmith Council or a company acting on its behalf. The Council/contractor might well push the rents up and up as fast as possible.I wish I were not so suspicious of the motives of this administration, but I have learned the hard way that their main aim is to reduce services AND Council Tax any way they can.

Una Hodgkins ● 4339d3 Comments

I thought this discussion was about a real farmers market, run by the London farmers market association. They will only allow 'real' farmers take stalls. It is all about locally grown and locally produced real value food. It would only be for four hours a week. But at least we could all buy real food!

Michael Wale ● 4270d

Wasn't this supposed to be subject to a judicial review? What happened to that?

Mark Evans ● 4271d

I don't know about the situation at Hammersmith Park but what happened on Chiswick Back Common may be relevant. For years neglected tennis courts lay fallow and became a magnet for anti-social activity. The company who ran the facility at Rocks Lane took it over, upgraded it and now the facility is incredibly popular. The football pitches in particular seem to be in almost constant use and predominantly by youngsters. From what I hear they can often use unbooked pitches for free.The era of fully subsidised Council amenities is probably over and some facilities, even ones that need to be paid for, are better than none.As for the Farmers Market, I'm agnostic although I'd expect local traders to have a veto on the idea. LBHF really need to be careful of messing with shops that pay business rates by inviting in other firms that don't who take their customers away.

Paul Corcoran ● 4300d