press release below, then the text of the leaflet we have been distributing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The women of the Olympic borough of Newham, London will be taking to the streets from their local Plashet Park on Saturday 28 October, heading a procession to save Queens Market, London’s most multi-ethnic market.

The private developers who are threatening the market are claiming that their new plans for the market are irresistible. Due to be revealed on 25 October, they will increase the number of executive apartments -currently standing at 240 -to be built on market land.

'Bulldozers in the market are not a way to win hearts and minds' observes one young student who depends on the market for affordable food.

'Marble floors? They can plate the floors with gold but we don't want the developers buying up our market. They'll put up the rents and the little food stalls will close; they'll bring in the high street big names – but we’ve got them just down the road anyway' comments a Muslim woman buying a sack of onions.

It will be the first time that St Modwen, the beleaguered developers have had a protest march directed against them and it will all add to the pressure for them to pull out. ASDA has already withdrawn from the scheme some four months ago under a barrage of negative publicity.

The procession is being held on the first Saturday after Newham's major festivals of Diwali and Ramadan and just a few weeks after the churches were adorned with fruit and veg to celebrate Harvest Festival. It will have an atmosphere of a carnival celebration with children blowing whistles and a marching samba band. The procession goes along Green Street, which is the food and shopping heart of Newham, up to Queens Market.

‘Men will be welcome too!’ add the organisers, a collective of ten Newham women: Somali, Indian, Pakistani, English, 'mixed', Trinidadian (a typical cross-section of the market's shoppers).

The procession will assemble in Plashet Park, Plashet Grove at 11am on Saturday 28 October. The Parks constabulary have been warned to expect a huge attendance as community anger is boiling up. One shopper spelled it out, ‘The council men in suits and the company men in suits are hand in glove to hijack our market! Totally undemocratic! But we’re the women, we’re the shoppers, we will make them all do u-turns!’

End of press release

Note to Editors: for further information see website

 http://www.friendsofqueensmarket.org.uk/

For further details of procession please ring Sasha: 07956- 649696

And FOQM on 0782-8861139

For Media and Press Interviews, please ring Pauline 0208-472-4730, Sasha or Mark 07893-62286


As land values soar the developers are everywhere grabbing public spaces, building investment properties and now they want

QUEENS MARKET IN UPTON PARK, EAST LONDON

the developers St Modwen plc think that they can buy it up and pull it down!

the Friends of Queens Market say no way!

no luxury flats on market land!

no high rent, high price, high street stores!

it’s not a gold mine for developers’ investors

it’s the people’s market with its cheap fresh food!!

there will be a WOMENS MARCH to save the market

JOIN US AT 11 am at Plashet Park on Saturday October 28

samba band, men are welcome too…

help us in this epic fight between community and big business: we want to start to turn the tide!

Directions: Plashet Park is in Plashet Grove , next to Plashet School for Girls.

Nearest Underground: East Ham and Upton Park.

Exit East Ham Station, cross over road and turn right. Plashet Grove is 3rd road on your left.

Exit Upton Park Station, turn left, cross over at first crossing, Plashet Grove is first on your right, at the roundabout next to the Pub

 http://www.friendsofqueensmarket.org.uk/

Shopping for Christmas, shopping for Diwali, shopping for Eid Shopping Every Week

WE NEED OUR MARKET: QUEENS MARKET IN UPTON PARK

Asda have pulled out but the Developers, St Modwen plc still want to buy it up and pull it down!

The Friends of Queens Market say…..

NO WAY!

NO LUXURY FLATS ON MARKET LAND!

NO HIGH RENT, HIGH STREET CLONE STORES!

It is not a gold mine for profiteers and developers’ investors: it’s the peoples’ market with its multi-ethnic inexpensive fresh food!

JOIN US for A WOMEN’S PROCESSION to save the market

Assemble AT 11 AM at PLASHET PARK on Plashet Grove on Saturday 28 October 2006.

Mums are marching, ladies are leading, children and toddlers, all along Green Street up to the market! All men are welcome too. Samba band!

Don’t just sit down, join us now and we will win!

Directions: Plashet Park is in Plashet Grove, next to Plashet School for Girls.

Nearest Underground: East Ham and Upton Park.

Exit East Ham Station, cross over road and turn right. Plashet Grove is 3rd road on your left.

Exit Upton Park Station, turn left, cross over at first crossing, Plashet Grove is first on your right, at the roundabout next to the pub

e-mail:  friendsofqueensmarket@yahoo.co.uk

tel: 0782-8861139