The re-birth of Chatsworth Road Sunday market has been the most conspicous example of our neighbourhood's so-suddenly visible gentrification over the past couple of years, and typifies its pros and cons. On the one hand, the market has brought new energy and variety to the area. On the other, its posh breads and fancy cheeses are too expensive for many local people, while its retro clothes and artefacts reflect very particular tastes. The big problem with gentrification is that the improvements it brings can be of little use to many residents of the area affected, and even do them real harm as rents and prices rise on the incoming tide of affluence.
How can these negative effects be avoided? The formation of the Chatsworth Road Neighbourhood Forum (CRNF) offers some hope. Under the government's Localism Act neighbourhood groups of this type can draw up development proposals which councils must take into account when dealing with planning applications for the area. The forum's chair, Euan Mills, is properly on the case. "We have to make sure that the area offers offers a future to everyone who lives there," he's told the Gazette. The price of housing is an absolutely crucial issue, though Councillor Ian Rathbone candidly acknowledges that the power of the new neighbourhood forums to ensure that genuinely affordable homes are built and protected is untested.
The CRNF is hsoting a series of workshop for people to share their ideas, and these seem to have been productive. Further workshop will be held on Wednesday evening (27 Feb) from 7:00-9:00 and on Saturday (2 March) from 10:00-4:00, both at Chats Palace.
P:S: The photograph was added on 3 March 2013
It's not like the locals were having a great time on Chatsworth Road before gentrification started, the pros massively outweigh the cons in my humble opinion.
Posted by: E5Gooner | February 25, 2013 at 02:01 PM
Absolutely agree with E5 gooner. The unmonied may not be able to buy posh cheese, but everyone can have a pleasant stroll through parts of Clapton now and feel uplifted, aspirational, whereas it was a downer 10 years ago. I was born poor in a council house, but seeing entrepreneurs, ordinary people running businesses, artists, gave me hope and ambition. It's good for kids to see alternative lives and good for all of us to have a truly mixed community.
Posted by: Annie D | March 04, 2013 at 03:01 PM
I think we are all in agreement here. I am have little money, but don't have Sky, or do drugs, or smoke, and hardly drink any more. So occasionally I treat myself to healthy bread at the market.
E5 Gooner let's close that gap!!! Notice Spurs fans crawling out from under the rocks recently not a great feeling.
Posted by: Andygunner Pandy | March 10, 2013 at 10:10 AM
Personally we're happy with a bit of gentrification so our house price goes up. And it's a safer, more interesting, nicer place to live/entertain and welcome friends and to bring up a family.
Posted by: Clapton Homeowner | April 09, 2013 at 06:28 AM