Support Hackney’s markets this Christmas

Offering variety, customer service and quality goods at unbeatable prices, you can pick up almost anything from fresh fruit and vegetables from the other side of the world to arts and handicrafts.

“Use them or lose them,” warns Ian Rathbone, Cllr for Leabridge ward, and to help you support the borough’s five markets during the festive period the council is offering free parking around Ridley Road, Hoxton and Broadway markets for a week from Saturday December 18-24.

As Chair of Chatsworth Traders and Residents Association, and Co-ordinator of Well Street Traders and Residents Association, Cllr Rathbone knows only too well that markets are an asset to the community.

“Local residents want to see their markets alive and kicking,” he said.

“Traders absolutely need our support, and we are in tough times - we are in a recession and the next few weeks are make or break time for some traders, as some of them are on such narrow margins they need to make enough money to tide them through quieter periods.

“Some people spend hundreds of pounds in supermarkets, but spend a few more quid locally and you can preserve your local economy.”

Cllr Rathbone believes that as well as providing much needed employment, markets generate sustainability for local shops.

“If more people are attracted by the stalls, they will pop in the shops as well,” he said.

“After the last two markets in Chatsworth Road, shop keepers reported an uplift of 50 to 200 percent in their sales, people start to get a habit of using the shops and come back later in the week.

“I think markets bring life and colour to the community, they are a community hub as the trendy expression goes these days but they are also a place people can meet and find out what’s going on - all kinds of things happen at markets.”

Shared use and pay and display bays will be free on the following days on these streets:

Residents’ permit bays and waiting and loading restrictions will still be enforced, and on all other dates normal restrictions will apply.

Hoxton Market. Saturday 18 to Friday 24 December 2010

* Falkirk Street

* Hemsworth Street

* Purcell Street

* Stanway Street

Ridley Road Market. Saturday 18 to Friday 24 December 2010

* Colvestone Crescent

* Montague Road

* St Mark’s Rise (between the junction of Ridley Road and Sandringham Road)

Broadway Market. Monday 20 - Friday 24 December 2010

* Ada Street

* Jackman Street

* Sheep Lane

* Welshpool Street

Hackney’s five street markets are:

Ridley Road Market, Dalston.

Over 165 stalls offering a range of quality goods from Asia, Africa, Caribbean, the UK and the Mediterranean including the ladies and men’s fashion and accessories, lingerie, footwear, toiletries, electrical, electronics and household goods and of course traditional and exotic fruit and vegetables.

Trading days are Monday to Thursday 6am to 6pm, Friday and Saturday 6am to 7pm.

Broadway Market, just off Lansdowne Drive, London Fields.

A farmers’ style market selling fashion, food and arts.

Trades Saturdays from 7.30am to 6.00pm. As 25 December falls on a Saturday, the market will open on Friday 24 December from 9am to 3pm.

Hoxton Market, Hoxton Road, Shoreditch.

Selling food, ladies and men’s fashion, footwear, household goods and toiletries.

The usual trading days and times are: Monday to Saturday from 7.30am to 6pm. Please note, the busiest day is Saturday.

Kingsland Waste Market, between Middleton Road and Richmond Road, Dalston.

You can pick up tools, car and bike accessories, various small secondhand goods, fruit and vegetables. This is a Saturday only market from 7am to 3pm.

Well Street Market, between Morning Lane and Kenton Road, Hackney South.

You can pick up various items including toiletries, clothing and footwear. This market opens daily from 9am to 4pm. It is at its busiest on Saturdays.

Chatsworth Market, in Lower Clapton is a trial market and the last trading day before Christmas is Sunday December 12..

For detailed opening times of each market go to www.hackney.gov.uk/markets