Blackheath farmers market seeks to extend hours and operate Saturdays

An application has been submitted to Lewisham council to expand operating hours at a Blackheath market.

The farmers market currently runs each Sunday between 10am and 2pm on the railway station car park.

The new plan seeks to extend Sunday hours to 4pm and operate on Saturday.

The application states:

“Planning permission was recently granted for the use of the above site as a farmer’s market on Sundays (under Ref: DC/21/121756) on 20 August 2021.

Due of the ongoing success of the Sunday Farmers Market, the applicant now wishes to extend the operating hours until 4:00 pm and extend operating days of the market to also include Saturday.”

The market has actually been running since 2001, occupying the site of around 25-35 spaces out of 205 across the site.

Late to join a canvassing session in Blackheath and considering bailing on it to enjoy the pleasure of the farmer’s market 😅 pic.twitter.com/Vr5QdKWPfE

— Leo Gibbons (@Layo_FH) April 3, 2022

The application seeks to address any concerns:

“The applicant is conscious of the issue of noise and always strives to be a good neighbour, being respectful of surrounding occupiers, whether this be residential or otherwise.

In this regard, strict market hours are in place for traders, this means that set up cannot begin before 8.00am and market trading cannot begin before 10.00am.

The market is managed by London Farmers Markets and management personnel are present for the duration of the market to ensure a successful market operation which includes amongst others: enforcing a quiet set up policy (no music, no shouting); seeking feedback from car park users during market hours on issues or concerns for resolution; enforcing the end of trading hours; and enforcing the clean-up policy so that the site is left tidy and any rubbish is taken away by traders.”