Smithfield General Market under threat

[RosieH]

Hi all,

I'm involved in a campaign to try to save Smithfield General Market from being knocked down and replaced with a multi-storey office complex, and it would be great to get as many people to sign up to it as possible.

The scenario:

- Smithfield General Market is the one next door to the meat market, currently boarded up. There's planning permission to knock down 75% of this unique, and gorgeous, Victorian market hall and build an office block slap bang in the middle of it.

- The plans are currently under review and with Eric Pickles, as Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, to decide whether or not they should go ahead

- We want to show him that there's a viable alternative, that would restore the buildings, return a market to the site, create office and event spaces - that would make the building a thriving hub for the community once again (there's been a market there since the 10th century)

- Crucially, this alternative scheme is PROFITABLE - so it doesn't have to be a choice between the emotional and rational - it makes financial sense to restore the buildings in a way that benefit everyone, not just one multinational who might fancy shifting their office to somewhere a bit edgier. And it would preserve a unique part of Britain's heritage, that once lost, can never be got back

You can read more about the campaign here: www.savesmithfieldmarket.com

If you'd like to lend your support, you can do any of the following:

1) Like the Facebook page - www.facebook.com/SaveSmithfieldMarket

2) Tweet Eric Pickles - @EricPickles and ask him to Please #SaveSmithfield

3) Share this with as many people as you can

And if you happen to round Farringdon today, you might spot our apple cart - come say hello and get yourself a free apple!

Thanks

[Otta]

I'll help save your market if you help save my alley.

http://louderthanwar.com/stop-the-demolition-of-tin-pan-alleydenmark-st-and-the-12-bar-now-join-the-campaign/

[Seabag]

Done, via Twitter and Instagram

Thanks for bringing this to my attention, only passed the other day and wondered what was afoot.

Let us know what further plans you have to generate attention to the #savesmithfield campaign

[RosieH]

Hurrah.

And Otta, I'll save your alley any time, baby!

Thanks Seabag - we're quite late in the day, 30 days to save it, so the more noise we can generate the better. This morning, we had an army of Lady Gagas protesting outside parliament (you'd have to be Gaga to tear down Smithfield, geddit? bonkers, but trying to get media attention needs a little bonkers) and we have a roaming apple cart around Farringdon, alerting the public to it and asking them to get involved.

[Seabag]

Im happy to have #SaveSmithfield plastered over our van for the next 30 days. We deliver up in the city and the East and West end every week

Have you got any stickers/vinyls ?

[steveo]

This link takes you to the Likes page

https://www.facebook.com/SaveSmithfieldMarket/likes

[RosieH]

Seabag, I could kiss you. In fact, come here...

I'm gonna see what we have!

[Seabag]

Ah, the power of social media

@LadyGaGa has retweeted your tweet featuring 10 GaGa look-a-likes

She's got 41,564,184 followers thus far

#savesmithfield

[steveo]

Shame it's too late for Earls Court

[RosieH]

Yup, Seabag, this is the kind of edifying thing I spend my days doing - 50 Lady Gagas marching round parliament square, trying not to get arrested / run over...

I'll drop you a PM about the van.