Save Marylebone Farmers Market, say local Liberal Democrats

3.15.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Sun 6th Jul 2008

Help us save our local farmers' market

Local people are being asked to show their support for Marylebone's weekly farmers market as Westminster City Council publishes a consultation today [7th July 2008] that proposes construction work on the site of the market.

The council is consulting on the future of Moxon Street car park, home to the weekly market, and is proposing a new adult education centre for the site.

Commenting on the news, local Liberal Democrat campaigner and Marylebone resident Stuart Bonar, who uses the market, said, "I was there at the weekend and got absolutely soaked, but the range and quality of the food on sale more than made up for my drenching.

"It would be a great shame if Marylebone was to lose its farmers market. The current location, near the great shops on Marylebone High Street and particularly Moxon Street itself, is absolutely perfect for just such a market. I know people who come in from all over to shop there. That brings in business and trade to the high street. The market is good news for everyone.

"I would be very happy to see a new adult education centre in the heart of Marylebone, but this is a big site with room for both a new centre and space for the market to continue. I would suggest creating an open space on site towards the Moxon Street end of the current car park, with the centre towards the St Vincent Street end. This would mean that the farmers market would sit alongside those fantastic shops on that street."

The local Liberal Democrats have launched a campaign website, with an online petition, so that people can easily show their support for the market to continue on its present site. The campaign's web address is http://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/farmersmarket

Stuart continued, "Please do log on and sign up. You can also print off petition sheets from there too. Let's show the council how special this market is to us."