This article won the Nick Lewis Memorial Trust Award in 2020 for work on a feature piece
Image Via @SaveLatinVillage on Instagram
Hidden away in the urban setting of Tottenham in North London, a stone’s-throw away from the city centre, lies Pueblito Paisa. An indoor market, taking you from the dull backdrop of London’s ever-growing landscape to a vibrant community, often described by visitors as ‘a piece of Latin America’. Though it may not catch the eyes of passers-by, one step through the door transforms your surroundings.
The bustle of busy families sharing a meal by a food stall, the giggles of children playing excitedly, the sounds of hairdressers chattering with clients. You are immersed in happy laughter, energetic music, and the meaty aroma of empanadas filling the air. A walk through the stalls of the UK’s only indoor Latin market takes you to another world, away from the hustle of London life.
The market - which also goes by the name of Latin Village - has operated in the Wards Corner building, just outside Seven Sisters train station since 1972. Market traders began renting the space, and with time, Pueblito Paisa became a cultural hub for its visitors.
However, the community that the traders have come to thrive in faces a great challenge, one which they have been fighting for 16 years. The market is in danger of being demolished.
It has been almost two decades since the UK’s largest residential landlord, Grainger PLC teamed with Haringey Council for regeneration plans for Wards Corner. They intend to demolish the market and replace it with 40,000 square feet of retail space and 196 barely affordable luxury homes.
This month, campaigners of the ‘Save Latin Village’ campaign will be holding various protests such as demonstrations outside of Grainger PLC’s offices, protests in the streets of Haringey and crowdfunding campaigns. This comes after some traders were handed eviction notices from the market manager, due to disputes over rent arrears in January. Campaigners are working hard to support the community, working with lawyers to appeal these notices and gain community funding to pay legal fees. Previous protests have seen staggering numbers with approximately 100 protestors taking part.
Image Via Mario W. Ihieme, @maz_o on Instagram
A home away from home for the thousands of Latin American visitors and traders every month, Pueblito Paisa houses the services of 43 businesses and more than 100 traders who see the community as a family. From buying fresh meat at the butcher’s stall, sending money to loved ones at the exchange, or even getting a manicure at the nail bar, the market offers a range of services.
“The Latin Village means everything to me, it’s home,” says Victoria Alvarrez, a trader who has worked with the market for 19 years since arriving from Colombia. Starting at a stall trading silverware and Colombian denim, Victoria has become a vital part of the community at Latin Village, leading campaigns and protests to protect the businesses. “Being so far away from home, I think this is a place that gives Latin Americans that connection, a typical lunch, typical coffee, being able to feel like you belong,” she says. “That’s why it’s so important for us to protest. To protect what we have managed to establish here, not only for the people that are here now, but for future generations of Latin American children, who need that taste of home.”
Grainger PLC are adamant that the redevelopment will positively affect the local economy. Jonathan Kiddle, associate director at Grainger and project lead of the Wards Corner project explains, “The expectation is that there will be a reasonable amount of job creation at Wards Corner as well as the retail space.” After facing backlash from the community, Grainger amended their planning application for Wards Corner to include retail space for traders from the market. Mr Kiddle says, “In 2008, we submitted a planning application which at first didn’t include reserved space for the traders. However, it became apparent that there was a higher level of public support for them.” According to Jonathan Kiddle, Grainger has been working to improve their promises to traders. These promises include a temporary market at the Apex House site during the proposed two and a half years of rebuilding, and a 30% discount on rent fees for the first 18 months when the project is complete.
In a leader’s statement, Haringey Council informed the public that they have done everything in their power to “guarantee the successful future of Seven Sisters Market in a sustainable and collaborative way”. The Secretary of State confirmed the council’s submission of a compulsory purchase order in February 2019 to acquire the land, which is now being challenged at the Court of Appeal by traders who believe that this project is not in the market’s best interests.
“At the moment the market is one homogeneous unit,” says Nicholas Amayo, who has traded at Pueblito Paisa for eight years at the money transfer. “The proposed new site would split the market up, it wouldn’t be the same quirky, multi-national market that we have right now.” Despite the promises from Grainger, traders like Nicholas and Victoria fear that rent prices may rise in the future and as Nicholas says, “This would jeopardise some traders’ existence and ability to stay in business and provide the sort of services they’re accustomed to.”
The battle for Pueblito Paisa goes on. With Grainger hoping to start the regeneration project by the end of this year, the ‘Save Latin Village’ campaign becomes bigger and better.
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