Green Light Given to Chiswick Flower Market
Organisers hope it will become west London's version of Columbia Road
Columbia Road Flower Market
The Chiswick Flower Market has been granted a formal licence to go ahead by Hounslow Council. The organisers say it is the first new flower market in London for 150 years and they want it to become the Columbia Road of west London.
A group of local residents will be launching the Flower Market on the first Sunday of each month, starting on 6 September, on the old Market Place on Chiswick High Road, including the area towards Devonshire Road.
The market will run from 9.30 am – 3.00 pm with subsequent markets on 4 October, 1 November and 6 December.
This was the place where Chiswick’s first open air market was set up in 1919 by soldiers returning from the First World War, also looking to create employment during an economic crisis.
It is hoped that the market will help to rejuvenate the High Road, which was already struggling before the pandemic.
“We want it to be the Columbia Road of West London” said Ollie Saunders, who originally had the idea for the market. Ollie is a commercial surveyor, one of three directors of the new Community Interest Company that, with the participation of a team of enthusiastic local residents, is planning the project.
“What better way to create some fun and beauty, and help Chiswick to emerge into a greener new future than by launching this market. Hopefully it will spark lots of other initiatives,” says author Karen Liebreich who runs Abundance London and has set up many community projects in the area based around horticulture and education.
Bridget Osborne, the third director who worked for the BBC for many years and is the editor of The Chiswick Calendar said, “Markets are brilliant places for people to meet friends and shop in a leisurely way which isn’t really possible in enclosed spaces any more. We’re fortunate that the Old Market Place is spacious, with plenty of room for social distancing and set back from the road, but slap bang in the middle of Chiswick.”
London Borough of Hounslow Leader Steve Curran said, “I’m absolutely delighted that the licence has been granted. I look forward to the launch and to buying my first bunch of flowers.”
With the licence formalities now sorted, the team is focussing on selecting traders. Stalls are being carefully chosen to provide a range of plants, from cut flowers and bouquets, to bulbs and bedding plants, exotic house plants, grow your own and interesting herbs. The traders range from experienced market traders who have operated at Columbia Road for years and are excited to be expanding westward, to established Chiswick plant sellers, specialist growers and local start-ups, trying out their business model before investing in a shop. The team is keen to get the mix right and say there has been a lot of interest.
There will be a Plant Creche where you can leave your purchases while you enjoy a meal or a drink and wander around Chiswick’s many independent shops. Volunteer cyclists will deliver your plants to your door free of charge if you live in Chiswick (and for a small charge if you want other shopping carried home for you as well).
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July 10, 2020