Shepherd's Bush: Market protesters disrupt council meeting

Protesters halted a council meeting where plans for a 109-year-old west London market were due to be approved.

The owners of Shepherd's Bush Market want to revamp the site and their plans include adding an eight-storey building for offices, shops, cafe and 40 flats.

Hammersmith and Fulham Council abandoned Tuesday's meeting after 20 protesters from Protect Shepherd's Bush Market disrupted it for an hour.

Campaigners said the council failed to fully engage with the community.

A council spokesperson said they were "disappointed" the meeting was disrupted, and both the authority and market owners Yoo Capital had consulted with members of the public.

During the protest, 25 people were refused access to the meeting, several of whom included traders who closed early in order to attend, Protect Shepherd's Bush Market said.

Bea Grant, a spokesperson for the group, said redeveloping the site would destroy its character and diversity.

"The planning process is devoid of democracy and this decision has been rigged from the start," she said.

She called for an urgent meeting with the council to discuss the group's concerns.

The group added that the council's report failed to mention a court case which overturned a previous owner's redevelopment plans for the market and past petitions supported by local residents.

Protect Shepherd's Bush Market campaign group also said a letter signed by 33 traders past and present was submitted it to the council opposing Yoo Capital's plan but this was dismissed.

In it, they outlined concerns over how rents will be calculated for long-term, new and future traders, as well as the interior disrepair of the railway arches.

They added they were concerned about any "big rent increases which would push traders out of the market".

The campaign group said 31 traders who signed the petition, which was carried out over the past six months, still work in the market.

The council and Yoo Capital says four of these signatures are invalid, something the group denies.

Laura Sakstein, committee member of the Shepherd's Bush Market Tenants Association, said she supported the development because trade and footfall had "deteriorated over the last few years".

Ms Sakstein, whose family has traded there for 90 years, said: "The traders have been in limbo for years waiting for developers.

"We are looking forward to the market returning to its former glory days."

A spokesperson for the council said it received more than 251 responses to the planning application, and market owners Yoo Capital had held more than two and a half years of consultation events.

"We have listened and analysed all the consultation responses, and we have sought independent advice from numerous experts to evaluate the proposed scheme," they said.

"Members of the public were also invited to speak at the meeting.

"We will shortly announce a new date, time and location for the meeting to resume."

Andrew Thorpe, managing director of Yoo Capital, said the company had "worked hard with the traders to create plans for the future of the market".

He added: "We look forward to reengaging with the planning committee at the appropriate time and will continue to support the traders and work with the local community."

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