Forum Topic

SAVE THE BLUE CROSS  STALL IN ACTON MARKET

I went today to hand in some clothes/videos etc to Mary, the lady who runs the Blue Cross Charity Stall in Acton Market every Saturday.  I was upset to learn that she is no longer running the "second hand" side of it because the market officials have deemed that it is not a suitable venture anymore for the image of the market.  Instead, they are giving her a temporary stall outside Morrisons for selling Christmas cards and new items etc but not second hand items.  Can anything be done to stop this?  The stall has been there for over 4 years and she and her daughter (Mandy) have worked tirelessly to raise funds for the Blue Cross animal charity. They are there in all weathers and are a key point of contact for some elderly and vulnerable people who cannot afford to buy items at expensive prices. I watched them today greeting passerbys and having a chat with people, some of whom may not have spoken to someone all week! Social interactions like these all do there bit to boost the community spirit of an area....As it is, the market space has far too few stalls in it and surely it would be nice to have a bit of diversity in the wares that are being sold?  In these recessionary times, I would have thought that the recycling of clothes/videos/pictures etc should be encouraged.  We produce far too much waste in this country and stalls like these reduce the amount of waste going to landfill sites, as well as providing valuable funding for charity.  Perhaps we should organise a petition to save it! The whole point of a market is to have second-hand/thrift stalls - look at Portobello and Brick Lane.

Eileen Francis ● 5429d20 Comments

'image of the market' ... is that a joke.  Any stall holder that is prepard to set up on the mount deserves a medal and encouragement - especially charities.

Dee Cook ● 5428d

Image of the Market ? what's left of it more like it.I never buy items for the Blue Cross Stall but understand its need and support the effort Mary has put into it I will certainly sign a petition to save it!

Philippe Bruyer ● 5428d

I would like to add a few comments of my own about the Blue Cross charity stall, I visit a relation in Acton every weekend and I always visit the market and visit the cheapest charity stall in the whole of west london the two volunteers are always polite and attentive and it seems that if the stall wasn't there the market would not be worth visiting. mainly because there is a jewelery stall that sells a metal that they claim is silver and is clearly not (no hallmarks and it turns black very quickly)and a stall that sells what I would call cheap imitation designer gear so obvious that I wonder why a Trading Standards Officer hasn't visited the market. End of rant but whoever is making the decision to remove the stall should think again for I will never visit the market again if this decision is made against the wishes of most of the visitors to the market. Can you tell me why the stalls are never in the same place every week.

Brian Evans ● 5428d

Could it be that ACTION ACTON are behind this?  They are a charity, albeit backed by Ealing council.What ever happened to the Acton BID?  I did the photos for that.

Nicola Howard ● 5428d

I know - it's ridiculous! Such a shame as there used to be a lovely vintage stall there too and apparently that was stopped as well.  It's no wonder the place is desolate at the moment!

Eileen Francis ● 5428d

Does anyone know who is the official in charge of the market?

Eileen Francis ● 5428d

Acton Market TeamAction Acton020 8993 9605E-mail: info@actionacton.comwww.actonmarket.com

Nicola Howard ● 5428d

Image?....What image for goodness sake! The entire square and the excuse for a market could do with an entire overhaul I think! There is hardly one redeeming feature that I can think of which would attract visitors to the market.The Blue Cross stall was usually quite busy when I walked by, which is more than can be said for some of the other stalls and there is very little to attract and entice people to buy!Sometimes there are so few stalls that it really hardly seems worth while and it may well be that the stall holders are really not making that much money, maybe that's why there are fewer and fewer stall holders now.I remember at one time we had the French market and other visitors to the area but I expect it was just not worth their while to make the effort.Years ago we had the old market which was situated in Crown Street, some stalls sold antiques, materials, books and so on. This marked disappeared when the area was turned into flats and shops. The market was relocated into the square outside Morrisons.As for the square? Where do I begin? It was so badly designed from the start! The paving should have been sealed to prevent stains. Directly under the market stalls where food is cooked has resulted in stains on the pavement. I did suggest to Streetwatchers that some tyoe of floor covering just under this type of stall would prevent excessive stains on the pavement.The trees had insufficient water because of the design and now a number of them are dead. The tree which was used as a Christmas Tree outside Morrisons has gone.Lennin's tomb - just a place for people to use as a toilet I'm afraid. Pointless and soulless! Planting of some sort to prevent the wind howling across a barren square should have been considered. The previous design was far batter than the current one.Drunks sitting on the steps of St Mary's Church or on Lennin's tomb is hardly an added attaction, nor is the ugly green box which hides the view of the church. I am aware that it is used for storing the market stalls but the area beding this green box is always full of rubbish from the market. St Mary's church hall is usually full of beer cans, empty bottles and such - again hardly an attraction.The plans to make Acton High Street more attractive (ahem!) do include painting the green box but I'm afraid it would take a miracle to make this thing attractive, adnd the same goes for the entire square!So why the big hoo ha about a little Blue Cross market stall? Anything that attracts folk to visit the area should be encouraged!I would have an area outside Morrisons where they could have tables and chairs, covered with a glass roof or even umbrellas. There would still be room for market stalls but some sort of box hedge or seating would be needed to stop the wind howling through.Image? Don't make me laugh!

Jean F Fernandez ● 5427d

Oops, sorry I meant to say ' The area behind the green box is always full of rubbish from the market'.Apologies, should have checked before posting!

Jean F Fernandez ● 5427d

I too remember the Crown Street market, (which was well used) the excellent fish and chip shop, greengrocer and the second hand furniture warehouse.  The wet fish shop opposite was also excellent - oh and there was a cafe too.  All used by myself and neighbours on daily basis.So, who decided that it all needed to be pulled down and 'planned' into something too hideous it cannot be put into words?

Dee Cook ● 5427d

This must be an April Fools joke! "The appearance of the Market". I went to the Market last Saturday and there were very few stalls there. The Farmers Market is now down to 2 stalls and even the Indian chap doing the food was  not there.I think whoever made this stupid decision should think again. Never heard such rubbish in all my life.

Tony Crumpton ● 5427d

Dee,Do you remember Roger and Pat's hairdressers on Crown St?I used that place for about 15 years but never met Pat!Roger was a good bloke and he moved his shop to Acton Lane.The Chinese people who ran the chippy moved it to Askew Rd and the standard remained high.It is still a chippy now,but run by another firm.I used to use the Six Bells and the Talbot.The Talbot seems a shadow of it's former incarnation with Noreen at the helm.Shame.

Keith Iddon ● 5426d

Yes, some 20 years ago there was a strong sense of community in that area.  All swept away by the planners!!!

Dee Cook ● 5426d

I too remember the chippy and the lovely bread from Greens the Bakers.

Tina Halpin ● 5426d

Hi i an Mandy and i run the Blue cross stall,which we have been trading 4 yrs in Acton market with action Acton letting us have a charity stall at reduced rent.   Sadly their are some rumors going around 1)We only want the best stall in the market which is not true as we have been trading under a pop up stall for six month with no sides, we have not been too any meetings and caused any trouble what so ever.  So hopefully after a meeting with Action Acton hopefully we can get this all sorted out ,in the mean time like to thank every body for their support. We will be outside of Morrison's on Saturday selling the charity's Christmas cards and etc thanks to the manager of Morrison's who has made this possible

mandy meehan ● 5424d

There seems to be a major communications problem here. Blue Cross have traded at Acton Market for 4 years and have always been supported by Action Acton in this - often at zero or reduced rent.The Blue Cross stall is seen as an integral part of the market and has never been told that it can't sell second hand goods. That would indeed be ludicrous. I met with Mary and Mandy 3 weeks ago to discuss positioning of the Blue Cross stall and after a very amicable meeting we agreed that this would be sorted out on the return of the Market supervisor from illness.That meeting is today and from then on it will be business as usual. Action Acton at no time have said Blue Cross should operate from a tempory stall outside morrisons. This is a private agreement between Morrisons and the trader.Regarding an earlier post regarding the BID the LBE regeneration department did not persue the BID as the money raised would not have proved sufficient to impact on local services to business.Hope this helps.....

Gary Burgess ● 5423d

Thanks Gary.  Good to hear that it's OK and that the usual knee jerk posters have got it wrong.

Nigel Williams ● 5423d

Yes, keep the Blue X stall. I have probably bought about 3 things since the market opened, a pack of Rizla's Swan filters and an electronic Health Cigarette.This Market is rubbish, badly planned and situated, and full of money grabbers, I remember about a year ago, I asked at the stall next to the carpet shop how much for a pretty ordinary pair of jeans? £80 was the answer, they were not designer or anything special and I thought, no-one with any sense is going to buy stuff like that.The old market was better and more friendly and sold stuff that I actually needed. I don't know why it closed, but soon afterwards it became a mosque or something like it, people were praying outside where the market used to be. I don't care about religion, people are free to worship or not, whatever they please, but the 'new' market is stronzata.

John Pollastrini ● 5420d

I just wanted to clarify my previous message. I believe that every Man or Woman has the right to worship and practise their religion. I am not 'against' any religion, and I think that everyone is free to pursue their spiritual beliefs as is their want to do so.This is still about the Blue Cross Stall in the Market, sorry if I derailed it a bit, that was not my intention.Peace

John Pollastrini ● 5416d

Update:'Tokens and treasures, yesterday’s pleasuresCheap imitations of heirlooms of oldDented and tarnished, scarred and unvarnishedIn the Blue Cross Stall they’re collected and sold.'I strongly recommend a visit (Saturdays only). Anything one can unload is now sold at the Blue Cross stall: clothing, picture frames, ornaments, toys, bags, jewellery, books, shoes, and any even old DIY thingies etc. It is the most cheerful market stall with the most excellent prices and most cheerful ladies. Mary warmly welcomes unwanted articles. Please see the Blue Cross poster at Morrisons for additional details.

Serena Cameron ● 5130d