'Market charter is ancient history'

3:28pm Tuesday 21st December 2004

Enfield's 400-year-old Market Charter may be torn up by the European Parliament.

Rival traders believe the ancient covenant which forbids alternative markets to be held within six miles of Enfield Town on the same day is illegal.

Now Haringey's Liberal Democrats group has appealed for the EU to intervene to scrap the charter, and allow Alexandra Palace in Wood Green to host a farmer's market on Saturdays.

Cllr Johnathan Bloch said: "This is an important issue for local small businesses and Haringey's economy. I hope that by taking this issue to the European Parliament we can secure an end to this absurd piece of legislation."

Established in 1618 by a Royal Charter granted by James I, Enfield Market, run by the Old Enfield Charitable Trust, has become a major attraction at the centre of Enfield Town.

The trust uses income derived from market rents to make charitable grants to the borough's poor and fund community projects.

But Mario Petrou, who runs a costume hire shop in Park Road, Hornsey, also wants the ancient charter to be scrapped. He said: "I believe the trust cares more for the prestige of holding the charter than the consequence of it being a yoke around our necks, and it has derogated its social responsibility."

The trust said it does not intend to restrict free trade, and that as long as the charter is in place it has a duty to uphold it.