Forum Topic

Farmers Market Organisers need an urgent meeting: HELP

In the recent issues of the Hounslow Council HM Magazine, (which is suppose to be distributed to some 80,000 households in the Borough)the Farmers Markets of Chiswick (Dukes Meadows), Fulham Town Hall (!)and Hammersmith Town Hall(!!) are listed in the Whats On Diary section of the magazine.Any mention of the Brentford Market? No!Stallholders made many comments to me today..saying that they were considering whether to turn up again...as attendence was poor today and last time too.  Lack of advertising, no posters on railings in Boston Manor Road...or elsewhere in Brentford in recent weeks could  possibly result in this Community Project stalling. And that would be a great pity.Several stallholders were missing this time..and the remaining ones were despondent. I tried to cheer them up...I did...but some asked me for HELP!! Can I speak to the Organisers.The Farmers Market is a project that needs promotion and support..to help stirr the stagnent porridge of Brentford into a more lively Community activity. Its a joy to meet locals in such a way..and its so easy to make conversation with people you have never met before.When I finished up with a £40 parking ticket on one occasion...I justpaid up..thinking that I had been doing something to help the civic endeavours.Several stallholders mentioned that they liked the NHS Car Park site for the Market. It was spacious. One chap suggested that all the stalls could perhaps be positioned at the back of the Car Park...and allow visitors to bring their cars into the front part of the area.None may stay more than 30 minutes..and it might help trade.Perhaps the £20 fee for having the stall should be waved for the time being. £20 may not sound much...by traders may have to do £75 of business to achieve that sum.Another stallholder thought that a weekly Market would be better...to enable a more regular shopping cycle to be established.Over to the experts...and for others to comment.  Is it the time for crafts to be introduced? Are there regulations stopping local residents having a stall to sell their home made cakes...and cheese straws etc etc. Insurance etc?

Jim Lawes ● 7328d14 Comments

Thanks for the thoughts - yes, the market will be going ahead. Anybody able to help out by displaying posters, putting leaflets through doors etc would be much appreciated - get in touch by clicking on 'Editor'.

Editor ● 7313d

It's not mentioned in the latest HM Magazine ..not that it had been ever(?) before.The HM Magazine ..latest issue...does mention the Chiswick Market again..and the one at Hammersmith Town Hall.Today: 16th April, this Brentford website is still advertising the 2nd April Market!Two weeks have passed since we raised this issue on this Community Forum and other than Corinna's acknowledgement there have been no official responses..or requests for HELP.Does Matt need a hand?

Jim Lawes ● 7314d

Phil Andrews ● 7317d

I for one don't want to see it dwindle away.Back oop north in scotchland we didn't have anything like this and had to drive out to the country (3 miles sometimes- a big distance in my country!) to get local fresh produce.I have been going down to this since I moved here at the end of last year and feel it would be a great shame if it dies a death.If anyone has any ideas to breathe life into the booger and needs an extra pair o hands of a weekend, drop me a line on jamieyardley@hotmail.com and I'll try to think of something meself as well. On a slight tangent but a very valid point- I had the misfortune of runnin out o vegetables during the week there so popped in to me 'local' supermarket -tomatoes from italy or morroco, mushrooms from france and peppers from god only knows where. I asked the assistant if they had any locally produced (within 50 miles) tomatoes and was told that it's the off season so no british ones were produced at all!  (Obviously never heard of greenhouses then!) Unbelievable.

Jamie Yardley ● 7317d

Sorry was away last week and have just seen this thread.I do not know what has happened re the Brentford Farmers Market but I will make enquiries.Corinna

Corinna Smart ● 7320d

The alarm bells raised on this thread about despondent traders...have not been acknowledged, so far, on this Forum...by either Matt or any of the Organisers. I'm surprised by that.In this week's Brentford,Chiswick and Isleworth Times the expected article appears on page 3. Hooray, Matt is interviewed, so at least he has now heard about it....but he is quoted as saying that the poor attendance last Saturday...WAS CAUSED BY COLD WEATHER!!Last Saturday was a warm day! Thats why some 30 customer sat in the beer garden at THE WEIR..and only 4 inside!Odd that quote..indeed sad!

Jim Lawes ● 7322d

The alarm bells raised on this thread about despondent traders...have not been acknowledged, so far, on this Forum...by either Matt or any of the Organisers. I'm surprised by that.In this week's Brentford,Chiswick and Isleworth Times the expected article appears on page 3. Hooray, Matt is interviewed, so at least he has now heard about it....but he is quoted as saying that the poor attendance last Saturday...WAS CAUSED BY COLD WEATHER!!Last Saturday was a warm day! Thats why some 30 customer sat in the beer garden at THE WEIR..and only 4 inside!Odd that quote..indeed sad!

Jim Lawes ● 7322d

David; the Brentford Dock website sounds a very good suggestion...and hopefully Matt and his colleagues will see your message and respond.

Jim Lawes ● 7325d

Hi Jim – I can’t remember the context but I’m sure that in the past you have pointed us in the direction of http://www.brentford-dock.net/.If you e-mail the editor (admin@brentford-dock.net), he will advertise the market (free) and I see that he reports 100-200 hits from the local area every day. 

David Johnson ● 7325d

The Brentford, Chiswick,and Isleworth Times phoned me today ..and perhaps others too...and it seems that |The newspaper wants to produce an article for this week's edition.I gather that the Organisers have been contacted...and they are to have a meeting on the subject. Goodo!After the hard work to get the Farmers Market started in Brentford...it would be a shame to see it fail through lack of advertising etc.

Jim Lawes ● 7325d

As a devotee of the West Ealing farmers market I have visited the Brentford one and was disappointed. I do think that a weekly one is far better as it gets people into the habit of going rather than trying to remember if its on or not. No there were no posters up -  there  are permanent ones up for the West Ealing one. Also the ethos of a farmers market is that they grow it and sell it. Have a look at www.lfm.org.uk which gives all the info about London farmers markets. The Borstall meat man is always at West Ealing guess they were trying Brentford too.The Butts would be a great place (not sure the residents would like it!) as it is more in the heart of Brentford which might give it a more community feel.

Linda F Wright ● 7326d

I fear the demise of the Brentford Farmers Market as I too was there on Saturday and was dissapointed that the particulars traders I had gone there for were not in fact there.  The Borstall meat man was not there and the chap selling eggs said he was probably at the West Ealing farmers market.  Several others had not turned up.  My own view is that it is in the wrong place on possibly the wrong day of the week.  I still believe the Butts area would be better and possibly on a Sunday.  Anybody intending to shop in Brentford in the first place would be in or around the Half Acre and there would therefore be the chance of some passing trade.  There is nothing to attract people to the health centre particularly if they are not aware of the farmers market in the first place.  Parking is a problem from the perspective of making heavy purchases.  I park opposite in Sydney Gardens and on the first couple of markets had to made a couple of trips across the road to load heavy shopping into the car so that I could return to the market and buy some more.  The last 2 markets have seen me make much fewer purchases because the traders have not been there.  I feel it's a great shame it got off to a good start and I had hoped it would grow rather than shrink.

Bernadette Paul ● 7327d

Phil: Thanks for your prompt response.Your offer to help this Community Project...via your Community Group..would be most welcome, I'm sure. Perhaps Matt or Corinna will be able to activate something too. Everyone is perhaps too busy. Is the Farmers Market a Brentford Area Committee project? or a local Labour Party Project?  Everyone will perhaps be too busy dealing with a General Election to sort something out before the first Saturday in May...by which time several more stalls could be lost!Lets see the responses of others.

Jim Lawes ● 7328d

JimThe Farmers' Market is an excellent initiative which we should all be prepared to fight for.  I'm sure the Community Group would be happy to help if there is some way we can - maybe by advertising it through our leaflets, website and/or e-bulletins?Yourself or the organisers can mail me privately about this if preferred at phil@communitygroup.org.uk.

Phil Andrews ● 7328d