Christmas blues at Broadway Market (From Surrey Comet)

Christmas blues at Broadway Market

2:56pm Tuesday 16th December 2008 in News

It might be the last Christmas for traders at Broadway Market in Tooting who are struggling to survive after a new owner hiked up rent.

Some traders say their rent has risen by £150 or £200 while others have been slapped with a new £200 storage charge.

The market has been hit hard by the credit crunch, with many shoppers visiting cheap supermarkets and pound shops instead this Christmas.

“It’s been very quiet recently,” said Anwar Safodan, who has run his fruit and veg stall for four years. “I still have a lot of produce left at the end of the day.

“My rent has gone up by £200. Next year I have no idea whether or not we can keep going.”

Karzan Rostem, of Lara Jewellery, added: “We are all worried about the future of the market. If the rent goes up, we are in the middle of the recession and it’s going to be hard.”

The owner, which is thought to also run Holloway Market in north London, has refused to answer our queries on its plans for the market.

However, when we contacted Tooting MP Sadiq Khan, he arranged to meet the owner to discuss a possible compromise.

He said: “Any rent increase in the current climate will have a detrimental effect on small businesses struggling to survive.

“What we need is more businesses being attracted to the market, rather than being driven away.”

The market boasts a wide range of authentic goods, including music, books and meat as well as tailoring services and cafes.

But in recent years customers have been turning to cheap chains blossoming in the area, such as Lidl and Tesco.

In the next few months Tooting’s third Lidl will move into the old Mothercare site in Tooting High Street.

Traders are already competing with Asda, Sainsbury’s, Primark and a substantial number of small bargain shops.

Market trader Farooq Azam, of Seven Stars Stationers, said: “This is the middle of December and usually we flourish, but now we are seeing hardship.

“When the rent goes up we will leave this shop. It’s not possible to meet the expenses of it.”