Sadly after an excellent re-launch in December 2010, with a fantastic response from the public, the Sunday market in Palmers Green station car park is once again dwindling. This is largely due to lack of visibility despite various attempts at signage at the entrance to the car park. Sadly there is a vicious circle at play in that not enough footfall discourages traders from coming and not enough traders makes the market less attractive and so it goes on. With no funding, publicity has to date been done by volunteers who eventually suffered burn out as the effort required was too demanding for the gain.
On Sunday 5th Feb, due to icy conditions ie: 6 inches snow, it wasn’t possible to set up in the Palmers Green station car park for health and safety reasons. In order to serve the small core of regular customers who have been loyally coming to the market for over 10 years, traders were forced to set up on the pavement next to the station outside the job centre at the top of the station access road. There was plenty of room as the pavement is unusually wide there, so no obstruction was caused. The response from the public was excellent with numerous residents saying they knew nothing about the market (to our chagrin) and that we should be on the pavement every week. Given that the majority of the shops on that stretch of Aldermans Hill are closed on a Sunday there would be no conflict with retailers.
Benefits of Sunday market begin located on pavement in PG:
Higher visibility for stallholders, much better footfall than car park so traders more likely to take part as more worthwhile, therefore the market could grow and flourish. The market provides an alternative shopping experience for locals and allowing local traders an outlet for their wares. Many of the public were delighted to discover the traders and the speciality produce on offer and said the market should be in this position every Sunday.
The market offers consumers an alternative to the supermarkets and chain stores where they can shop locally from small suppliers who are bringing either locally made or specialist items not available locally.
Bring life and colour to that part of the high street is fairly dead on a Sunday with most of the shops closed.
The pavement is wide enough to hold market stalls without blocking the passage for pedestrians, giving plenty of room to browse and pass by.