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ANTI-GENTRIFICATION campaigners in east London have claimed victory after landlords backed down on their plans to throw out market traders.
More than 20 stallholders at Ridley Road Shopping Village in Dalston were told earlier this week to leave the premises by Friday.
The building has been earmarked for conversion into luxury flats, but traders were told they would be allowed to stay until December 31 to benefit from Christmas trade.
A community petition against the evictions gathered over 7,770 signatures in a week, while a demonstration organised by the London Renters Union attracted hundreds of supporters.
Hackney’s Labour Mayor Philip Glanville has told the managers to stop the evictions, while local MP Diane Abbott said: “This is deeply worrying for the livelihoods of those traders and the community which use the shopping centre.”
Mr Glanville described the landlords’ climbdown as “significant” and is to meet them to seek confirmation that the traders can stay until after Christmas.
Ridley Road market is believed to have inspired the fictional Walford market in long-running BBC soap EastEnders.
