FSB urges integrity of Camden Market re-development

With up to three hundred small businesses having suffered in last weekend’s catastrophic fire at London’s famous Camden Lock Market the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is warning that the subsequent re-development needs to retain integrity and loyalty to the small business owners affected.

Camden Market Holdings, owners of the Market, have already vowed to rebuild the site as quickly as possible.

Camden Market has long been an important local resource, offering an eclectic mix of stalls and shops. It has also played a large role in this part of London in getting people to shop local and also has a positive knock-on effect on surrounding businesses.

Laurie Payne, FSB London Regional Chairman, said:

“The speedy resumption of the livelihoods of more than three hundred small business owners is extremely important. However, with this speed of re-development, which is very much welcomed, it is also imperative that the affected businesses are treated both fairly and with integrity.

“The re-development should take place in consultation with the stallholders and should not be seen as a chance to shoehorn in anything that would go against their needs, and those of both the Camden community and the hundreds of thousands of tourists who come to visit this unique area each week.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

1. Small businesses employ 58% of the private sector workforce, contribute over 50% of UK GDP and make up more than 99% of all UK businesses.

2. The FSB is Britain’s biggest business organisation with over 210,000 members. It exists to protect and promote the interests of the self-employed, and all those who run their own business. More information is available at www.fsb.org.uk.

3. For more information on Friends of the Earth please go to www.foe.org.uk

Contacts:

For interviews with FSB Chief Spokesman Stephen Alambritis or other senior FSB personnel please contact the FSB Press Office.

FSB Press Office
Andrew Cave: 020 7592 8123 / 07917 628991

Simon Briault: 020 7592 8128 / 07917 628998

Belinda Webb: 020 7592 8121 / 07825 125 695

For regional FSB contacts please go to www.fsb.org.uk/regions