Don't ice Brixton Market

Tesco PLC want to develop a superstore in Streatham, on a site that includes Streatham Ice Rink. As well as the store, the development will include housing and a new ice rink. But while they're doing the work, the Council wants them to ensure that an ice rink is still available. When Ken Livingstone was Mayor he rejected Lambeth's initial permission to Tesco because he felt the assurances Tesco had give on this were too weak. When Ken did grant permission, in 2003, it was on the basis that Tesco could only build the superstore if the ice rink was built first.

What's this got to do with Brixton Market?
Good Question! Since then, Lambeth have let Tesco off that hook - instead they have said that Tesco need to pay for a temporary ice rink on a different location in the borough. They first chose Streatham Common, but a successful campaign by locals stopped them putting it there. After that, the council's eye fell on Brixton Market - or on its carpark to be precise.

Brixton Market needs car parking, not Streatham's ice rink. Market customers who buy big sacks of rice, cans of oil, boxes of fish for their families need to transport it by car. A market like Brixton cannot survive on footfall alone. Without car parking, shoppers largely from ethnic minorities, are being forced to take their custom elsewhere and Brixton Market as a whole suffers.

Tesco announced record breaking sales of more than £1bn a week and annual profits of more than £3bn in 2009, despite the impact of the global downturn. It has the resource to develop a solution that doesn't destroy Brixton Market. Lambeth Council has stated their recognition of the importance of the car park to Brixton's economy. And yet they will bend over backwards to accommodate Tesco's meanest desire.

To show your support for Brixton Market and show Tesco the strength of feeling about this issue in our community, please sign up to this petition.

For full background see www.donticebrixtonmarket.org