Liberal Democrat councillor Jonathan Bloch has written to the new leader of Haringey Council, Charles Adje, and requested that he overturns the Labour administration’s refusal to support efforts by local traders to have an archaic ruling that restricts Saturday trading removed.

The Lib Dems are trying to gain Haringey Council’s support for the removal of an ancient royal charter which stops the Ally Pally farmers market taking place on a Saturday.

The Lib Dems asked the Labour leadership if they would approach the Old Enfield Charitable Trust with a view to persuading them to seek an alteration to the Royal Charter, which dates back to 1601.

The Labour Council rejected the request citing a number of reasons including the belief that the Sunday Farmers’ Market was currently ‘free from problems’ and that the Council has no ‘direct interest’ in it and thus was uninterested in getting involved.

Liberal Democrat Muswell Hill councillor Jonathan Bloch is hoping that a new administration will correct what, in his opinion, has been a bad misjudgement by the Council.

Cllr Jonathan Bloch (Muswell Hill) comments:

“It is very disappointing that Haringey Council has been so negative about local traders’ efforts to repeal this Charter. I hope that the new administration will have a bit more sense and support efforts which, if successful, will be good for the local economy.

“We will continue to support the efforts of local traders to secure an end to this bizarre Charter. It is an unacceptable and unfair restriction on doing business in Haringey, and it should be removed.”