Chances to progress key Government agendas on social cohesion and sustainable communities are being lost by neglecting the role of street markets according to two new studies from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Markets and other public spaces like streets that may seem mundane to outsiders can play an important role in developing and sustaining social relations in local communities.
In a new report by Sophie Watson of the Open University, which examines the issues in eight markets across the country, markets were found to be important sites of social interaction for groups of all ages, but especially for older women. The report will be launched next week (11 September) at the National Association of British Market Authorities where the author is a speaker. Her report found that markets have an important social inclusion role, providing places to linger, especially for older people and younger mothers. The social life of traders contributed to the social scene, creating a vibrant atmosphere and helping to forge links in the trading community as well as with shoppers.
The research found that for markets to function well as social spaces, they need:
According to a second study by Vicky Cattell and Nick Dines of Queen Mary, University of London which examined public spaces in east London, markets are amongst the most valued local public spaces. Queens Market in Newham brought people of different backgrounds together and enabled everyday contact between different ethnic groups who might not otherwise interact. According to a member of a campaign to save the local market from regeneration plans, this applied both to traders and shoppers. “Next to the Bengalis selling biscuits is a Jewish guy selling curtains. They would never have met a Jewish bloke…I can’t see another space where that could possibly happen.”
According to Vicky Cattell, the lead author of this work in Newham:
“Everyday public spaces can play a vital role in sustaining social relations; people value the casual but vibrant social mix of such areas. Yet economic and design priorities have sometimes overridden these less tangible assets of public spaces. Over time, routine use of markets and other public spaces enables people to build up attachment to their local neighbourhood and provides unparalleled opportunities for people to mix and develop connections. In our study, the value placed on such spaces became more pronounced if they were at risk of demolition or significant change.”
For markets to function well, local authorities who manage them need to have a strategic vision and good local management to see them develop fully. A lack of resource or profile for markets can be a problem, and their social value can be overlooked in regeneration initiatives.
Sophie Watson notes, “We found national and local policy to encourage and to support markets’ role as a key social and economic space for the local community was rather limited. Markets could play a much more significant role in national policy agendas such as social inclusion, town-centre regeneration and healthy eating if they were given more priority in local and national policy.”
These two reports form part of JRF’s public space research programme on the use and social value of public space. More information is available at www.jrf.org.uk.
