Farmers’ markets axed ‘for being middle- class’

A LABOUR council has banned two hugely popular farmers’ markets in what organisers fear is an assault on the middle classes.

Bosses at Hammersmith and Fulham Council in West London insist that the weekly Bishops Park and Ravenscourt Park markets, where dozens of traders sell baked goods, cheeses, fruit and other produce, are a Covid-19 risk.

But RMS Markets, which runs the events and has vowed to challenge the council’s court injunction, accuse officials of using the virus as an excuse to curb the markets, which they view as too middle-class.

In an email to market organisers seen by The Mail on Sunday, Steve Hollingsworth, the council’s assistant director of leisure, sport and culture, said the local authority was using the closures to ‘review the purpose of the markets… to meet the council’s priorities’.

Last night, RMS Markets manager Fiona Campbell said: ‘We are at a complete loss as to what has happened. We have jumped through every single Covid safety hoop that has been placed in front of us.

‘ One theory is that they think we’re too middle-class. Well, I can tell you that the traders who work at these markets are just normal, honest, hard-working people.’

Other markets in the area, including the daily North End Road market, which attracts thousands, have been allowed to stay open. Meanwhile, non-essential retailers, hairdressers, gyms and beauty salons have all opened and latest infection figures for Hammersmith show there were fewer than three Covid cases in the seven days to May 1. The council claims the markets were closed to prioritise sport in Bishops Park – despite there being no organised sport there and signs banning jogging and cycling between 10am and 3pm.

Trader Tim Thornton, a professional jazz musician who has performed at the Proms and Glastonbury Festival, began his Face Base Pizza stall at the markets last May after gigs dried up. ‘The money I make at the markets represents about three- quarters of my weekly income, so it’s devastating,’ he said.

‘I just can’t understand why the council would close down such a popular market, but there is clearly something else going on that we don’t know about.’

A petition started by RMS Markets against t he decision has attracted almost 1,500 signatures and a crowdfunding campaign has raised more than £5,000.

A council spokesman said: ‘The farmers’ markets are closed on public health advice to comply with social-distancing measures.

‘We look forward to re-establishing the markets soon following a public tender process in which RMS can participate.’