RIDLEY ROAD MARKET is being boosted by Hackney council, and the old Kingsland Waste is to be revived.

Investment councillor Guy Nicholson said that the central Dalston fruit, veg, snacks and small-goods market was not being turned into a street-food specialist and the Waste would be revived as Kingsland Market next month July 2018.

He told Loving Dalston: “Ridley Road Market is under-capacity so the council is trying to recruit more traders selling a wider range of goods to fill the vacant spaces in the market.” 

This did not detract from the market’s traditional appeal. He explained: “People will be able to trade from just £44 a week — considerably cheaper than comparable markets elsewhere in London.”

This does not please all traders, some of whom have long been complaining to Loving Dalston about the cost of renting a pitch in the market.

Hackney council, however, spends almost £200,000 on subsidising its markets, most of the money on daily cleaning of Ridley Road. (The contractors do a superb job, by the way, albeit soon made dirty again by users.)

Ridley Road might have died but for the patronage of Afro-Caribbean and other ethnic minorities, who will make long trips across London to use it. Young professionals, whatever their origins, tend to avoid it, preferring the convenience of supermarkets, such as the next-door Sainsbury’s. 

The council is putting some effort into changing that, with stylish signs above the stalls, the occasional artsy installation — the latest a secular confession box — and a lively promotional video on Youtube following a young shopper comparing supermarket with Ridley Road prices. 

The short film was well pitched to appeal to millennials, apart from one clanger: it inadvertently endorsed plastic by showing her with some of her shopping in plastic bags.

Nicholson sidestepped the charge of endorsement by responding: “The video does not encourage plastic bag use and demonstrates that shopping at the market actually leads to reduced plastic consumption for customers as fruit and veg comes loose or wrapped in paper.

“The council also organises the distribution of free Ridley Road Market tote bags to market customers to help reduce plastic bag use.”

As for the new market, the Kingsland, Nicholson said it was still on target to launch in July 2018 “and will keep to its traditional roots, specialising in secondhand bargains, antiques and vintage goods, as well as some street food”. 

On its website, the council says it is encouraging more permanent and casual traders at Hackney markets, especially those who trade in confectionery, stationery, cooked hot food, arts and crafts, toiletries, china and footwear. 

What better low-cost chance for a would-be entrepreneur to try a business idea?

David Altheer 250618

* Press this link for an application form or phone the town hall on 020 8356 8288 for more information.

* Backstory: Kingsland market to close; High rise in Ridley Road; Seven-floor application at 75 refused; Behind the stalls: Rambling Down Ridley Road’s favourites shops; NatWest’s closure of Dalston bank hits traders; Dalston TFC to build 13 flats; Year of healthy Ridley bargains; New York buys Old Spitalfields

* Photographs © DavidAltheer@gmail.com, and for sale for reproduction. Bigger format versions are usually available.

* Market promo video

* Emboldened underscored words in most cases indicate a hyperlink, a reader service rare among websites. If a link does not work, it is probably because the site to which the URL refers has not been maintained. A link indicates neither approval nor disapproval by Loving Dalston.