Bailiffs Post Eviction Notices at Latin Village After Haringey Council Rejects Scrutiny Report

Bailiffs posted eviction notices on a trader’s unit in Seven Sisters’ Latin Village on Friday morning, days after Haringey Council rejected its own scrutiny report into developer Grainger’s plans to demolish the market and the Wards Corner community plan counter-proposal.

A message posted to Save Latin Village’s twitter account at 9:16a.m. on Friday reported “bailiffs currently carrying out evictions” and asked for support:

“URGENT: Bailiffs currently carrying out evictions @LatinVillageUK - support needed ASAP.

This is the latest shameful episode in @Quarterbridge’s violent campaign to bully us out of the market on behalf of @graingerplc. We will not be intimidated.”

A photograph attached showed a “Take Notice” delivered by Dawkins Specialist Civil Enforcement Agents, which said: “We as authorised agents acting on behalf of the landlord have this day entered, secured and recovered possession of these premises. Any attempt by your or your agents to re-enter the said premises will result in civil/criminal proceedings being taken against you.”

Save Latin Village/Twitter

Dawkins did not respond to a request for comment, and did not clarify whether its notice breached the Commercial Rent Arrears Recovery (CRAR) regulations, which stipulate a seven-day notice of enforcement before actions is taken.

Bailiffs delivered the notice days after Haringey Council rejected the Haringey Council Housing and Regeneration Scrutiny Panel’s report into Grainger’s plans for the market. That centred on a reported conflict of interest between Quarterbridge — the market facilitator appointed to protect traders’ interests — and Market Asset Management — the market manager who would have authority to send bailiffs.

Jonathan Owen is a director of both companies, and Save Latin Village believed this to be in breach of a section 106 order between Haringey Council and Grainger. Haringey Council rejected the conflict of interest despite the review, drawn up by both Labour and opposition Liberal Democrat councillors, recommending “ongoing investigation into the compliance with the section 106 obligations,” which “should include ... “how the conflict of interest between the market facilitator role and market manager role when they were the same person could not have been recognised earlier.” Grainger says that it has agreed to replace the current “market facilitator,” Quarterbridge in dialogue with Haringey Council and Transport for London.

The report had also recommended that the traders currently at Latin Village meet with Grainger to discuss the impact of the development on the community; current proposals detail 196 homes, none of them classified as “affordable,” with a temporary market for traders who will — theoretically — be able to move into the new market once complete.

This escalation happens in the context of developers shutting down Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre this summer — both spaces are vital hubs for London’s Latinx and BAME communities, and both are designated to be razed in pursuit of regeneration.

More soon.