Dagenham Market - What
Dagenham Market is obviously a topic close to the hearts of many readers. After the last post I got quite a few emails from readers (the comment section was broken, but is now fixed) stating their feelings of either love or hate towards Dagenham Market.
Mary from Rainham Road South said:
I don’t feel that Dagenham market is a true market any more. Most of the stalls there just seem to be selling clothes, and not much cheaper than the shops.
When I go abroad to France or Spain the markets are completely different. The locals there are more interested in fresh food, than copycat jumpers. Where are the cheese, deli, bread, fish, and the 20 or so vegetable stalls? I know you are going to say there are a couple of these on Dagenham market, but you cannot compare them to the quality of the French stalls.
What do you think?
Mary
Well Mary, I agree that when you travel around Europe you see a lot of fresh vegetables, and other produce, being sold on local markets. The main reason, I think, is all down to shopping habits. Us Brits seem to have lost the habit of buying our food on the day it is going to be eaten. I might be wrong, but I think our mentality is geared more towards convenience, fast food, ready-made meals etc. We no longer go out in the morning to buy that nights dinner.
Supermarkets get them blame for the decline in market shopping, local shops, milkmen, and many other community services. The truth is, if we do no use supermarkets to buy these types of products and services they would stop selling them. In reality, we the shopper, want to find everything we need under one roof. I hate myself for saying it, but I am one of those people.
To get back to your point Mary, I am sure if there was a demand for; fresh bread, cheese, wine, and meat on Dagenham market, then I am sure you would fined stall holders queing up to sell it.
Over the years we as a community (and country) have changed, and no I don’t think that is a good thing. With that change has come the rise of out of town shopping and the decline of small local businesses. Dagenham Market is just a reflection of this change in attitude.
However, what I think is not important, it’s your views that count, so what do think? What do you think the future holds for Dagenham Market?
