Evictions show Council has failed in its 'duty of care' to Latin Market traders

24 Jan 2020

The sending of bailiffs into the Wards Corner Latin Village in Seven Sisters marks an alarming escalation of threats to the market and the traders who depend on it, warn Haringey Liberal Democrats

Cllr Tammy Palmer (LD - Crouch End) has written to Haringey Council's Cabinet Member for Finance and Strategic Regeneration to demand what the Council knew about the evictions and that it step up to defend the traders facing evictions.

This follows angry scenes at a meeting of the Council’s cabinet on Tuesday 21st January, where traders were removed following arguments with Cabinet members. The debate was cut short by the Leader of the Council before backbench councillors including Cllr Palmer were able to ask Cllr Adje challenging questions about a scrutiny review which criticised the Council’s handling of the market.

Text of Cllr Palmer's letter to Cllr Adje:

Dear Cllr Adje,

Evictions of Wards Corner Traders

You will no doubt be aware of reports that Quarterbridge is using bailiffs to evict traders from the Latin Village.

If these reports are true, then I find them alarming. Evicting anyone by force should always be a last resort. That applies even more so to the Market, given the well documented history of harassment and bullying of traders.

Given your comments on Tuesday about the Council owing a “duty of care” to the traders, I trust I can rely on you to support traders at this time.

Please would you consider urgently doing the following:

Briefing councillors on whether the Council was aware these evictions were going to happen and, if so, when it was notified of them and what steps it took to ascertain that they were legal and not revenge evictions.
Making a public statement calling on Quaterbridge to halt the evictions.
Clarifying whether being evicted will impact the trader’s position in the temporary market and their ability to return to the market post-redevelopment.

Yours sincerely,
Tammy Palmer
Ward councillor for Crouch End

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