A Lib Dem councillor has filed a petition at the European Parliamentobjecting to the archaic Royal Charter that prevents traders using AlexandraPalace farmers’ market on a Saturday.

Cllr Jonathan Bloch, who representsMuswell Hill, says he has gone to Europe due to the virtual impossibility ofhaving the legislation withdrawn or amended due to time constraints in theUK parliament.

The controversial Royal Charter, granted by James I in 1618, gave the rightfor local notables to hold a market for the poor every Saturday in Enfield.Lib Dems say that the clause that has created problems for local traders andhas remained in force for almost 400 years is the statement that no othermarket or sale may be held within a radius of 6.66 miles of the EnfieldMarket on a Saturday.

After an unsuccessful approach to the Government’s Cabinet Office earlier inthe year, and with no help from Haringey’s Labour-run Council to lobbyParliament, Cllr Bloch believes that European Parliament is the only optionavailable.

He, along with local traders, feels that the Royal Charter iscontrary to EU competition law and as a result is a barrier to theestablishment of small businesses in the borough.Cllr Bloch is calling onthe European Parliament to ask the British Government to draw up a list ofRoyal Charters that contain restrictive clauses, to determine whether theyserved any beneficial social purpose and to remove those that do not.

Cllr Jonathan Bloch comments: “Local traders and my Lib Dem colleagues havecontinued to press both Haringey Council and Government but to no avail. This isan important issue for local small businesses and Haringey’s economy.

“I hope that by taking this issue to the European Parliament we can securean end to this absurd piece of legislation.”