Is Kirkgate Market next?

Independent traders at the Corn Exchange in Leeds are being kicked out by the managers of the building Zurich. And what is the solution proposed by Leeds City Council, owners of the building? That they will find them a place in the next door Kirkgate Market...

Corn Exchange traders have already suggested that this is a very unlikely idea as both clienteles are very different and the Corn Exchange caters for higher income groups. Unless, of course, the Council has their own plans for the Kirkgate Market
The Council has indeed plans to redevelop the Kirkgate Market and although in all the public communications so far the Council has maintained that the regeneration will keep it as it is, this new revelation points to the worst: that they envision a beautification of the Market, capitalising on next door future development of Eastgate and Harewood Quarter. This will be an upmarket shopping centre, understood by many to be an extension of the Victoria Quarter. More flambouyantly, Stuart Robinson, consultant at this shopping centre project said that the galleria is designed to be “on a par with Milan’s Vittorio Emanuele.” This is classified as one of the most expensive and exclusive places in Europe but it also has fantastic 1870s architecture, something that Terry Farrell’s design will never be able to reproduce.

You somehow can't escape the thought of how will the shoppers of such an exclusive shopping centre feel next to the butcher's row in the next door Kirkgate Market.

Traders are the Market are already aware of all these ongoing plans and fear the worst.

MORE THAN 16,000 PEOPLE AGAINST PLANS TO TURN THE LEEDS CORN EXCHANGE INTO A FOOD COURT

Protestors outside the Corn Exchange in Leeds on the 15th of December 2007

OVER 16,000 PEOPLE HAVE GONE OUT OF THEIR WAY TO SAY THAT THEY DO NOT WANT THIS SCHEME AND THAT THEY WANT ZURICH TO CHANGE THEIR MINDS –

• The Facebook Save the Corn Exchange global and local campaigns with supporters both within Leeds and worldwide. To date 11,606 people have joined this campaign.
• The local handsigned petition which has over 3450 signatures.
• An online petition with over 700 signatures
• A letter from academics at the University of Leeds stating that they feel the plan is damaging to the City of Leeds.
• The support of the two Myspace Save the Corn Exchange Campaigns and the Bebo save the Corn Exchange campaign totalling some 400 young people.
• Leeds City Council Officials have said they are very concerned about the plans.
• The Yorkshire Evening Post “Your Views” section has received dozens of letters from members of the public who are furious about the plans – these are available to view online.
• Secretary for the Environment Hilary Benn has given his support to the traders and has written to Zurich on their behalf.
  

WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR THEM TO LISTEN?

Leeds, Live it, Lease it

Corn Exchange’s future in the hands of a high risk pension fund

The Corn exchange is owned by Leeds City Council but is leased to Zurich Assurance. Effectively Leeds Corn Exchange now forms part of a property portfolio of one of Zurich’s pension funds. The fund is managed by Threadneedle Asset Management and according to Zurich’s own documents this fund “invests in assets which tend to produce the highest level of return but with higher risk”.

This fund has indeed shown a sharp fall in the last year. The sustainability of the building therefore depends on property market fluctuations. This profit-oriented view was confirmed by Zurich in an email communication:

As around £1.5 million pounds has been spent on the repair we must make sure
that the future of the building is sustainable. […] we own the building on
behalf of our policyholders - people who have invested with us and to whom we
are accountable to for their long term savings. As such, we need to ensure we
act responsibly in securing their futures, as well as the future of the building
itself” (email communication)

In sum, this listed building and historical heritage of Leeds now forms part of Zurich’s pension’s property investment portfolio whose aim is to make profit.

SAVE THE CORN EXCHANGE IN LEEDS

The Corn Exchange in Leeds is one of the most famous independent and alternative shopping outlets in the UK now under threat to become a Food International Emporium. Although owned by Leeds City Council it is leased to Zurich whose aim is to maximise profit and therefore get more upmarket shops who will pay higher rents.

Thousands of people in Leeds have shown disgust for this change. We feel it will mean the end of one of the few alternative public spaces in Leeds, a city increasingly taken over by corporate brands.

Send your views to MP and councillors

Leeds City Council owns the Corn Exchange, they also make policy as to how the City should be developed, built and managed. Councillors often lose connection to their constituents so we must let them know what we think.

Send this letter to:

• Andrew Carter is Leader of the council. He has already expressed a willingness to help the Corn Exchange and he is in charge of Regeneration and Development in the Council so it is vital that he hears citizen's view. andrew.carter@leeds.gov.uk
• Hilary Benn is MP for Leeds Central. He is also Secretary of State for Environment. bennh@parliament.uk
• Patrick Davey Councillor for City Centre patrick.davey@leeds.gov.uk
• Mohammed Iqbal Councillor for City Centre mohammed.iqbal@leeds.gov.uk
• Elizabeth Nash Councillor for City Centre elizabeth.nash@leeds.gov.uk
• your own councillor in Leeds, find it here: http://www.leeds.gov.uk/moderngov/mgMemberIndex.asp?bcr=1&lccnavid=100004200033358

MODIFY THE LETTER TO SUIT YOUR OWN VIEWS

Dear…,
I am writing to you to show my concern over the current plans to turn the Corn Exchange into an International Food Emporium. You have probably heard the controversy that these have caused and how thousands of people in Leeds are against it.

The Corn Exchange is a Public Building, an architectural icon and forms part of the history of Leeds. It is also one of the few places in Leeds that offers independent shops and a friendly space to meet people of all kinds. Current plans will undermine these great qualities.

The Corn Exchange is owned by Leeds City Council but leased on a long terms basis to Zurich Assurance. Their objective is to maximise profit and make the most of their investment which they currently cannot do with independent traders. But is this the right approach to a Public building and historical heritage in Leeds? The Council should be able to decide over buildings that owns and that belong to the community as public assets.

As the political representative for the city of Leeds I understand is your role to defend the interests of citizens who live, work or shop in Leeds and so I urge you to ask Zurich Assurance and Leeds City Council to re-consider their plans,

Best regards,

Send your views to ZURICH

Zurich Assurance is a multi-billion insurance company with interests in 170 countries! The Corn Exchange is part of a property portfolio of one of Zurich’s pension funds. This fund is managed by Threadneedle Asset Management who in turn employs Phoenix Beard to manage the building. Their role is to maximise profit not preserve the character of a community asset. Let them know what you think!

Send this letter to:

• Rod Whitton, PHOENIX BEARD
  The Exchange, 19 Newhall St., Birmingham, B3 3JP
  rod.witton@phoenix-beard.co.uk
• THE CORN EXCHANGE Call Lane, Leeds, LS1 7BR Tel: 0113 234 0363 Fax: 0113 234 1745 info.cornx@btconnect.com
• Zurich 1 East Parade Leeds, LS1 2AA Tel: 0113 243 3171 zmleedsclaims@uk.zurich.com

MODIFY THIS LETTER TO SUIT YOUR OWN VIEWS

Dear…

I have heard what the intended plans are for the corn exchange and I must admit I am really very sad at what is happening. I like change (Leeds is such a changing and developing city who couldn't) however I feel that changing the corn exchange would be such a mistake!

The Corn Exchange is a Public Building, an architectural icon and forms part of the history of Leeds. It is also one of the few places in Leeds that offers independent shops and a friendly space to meet people of all kinds. It is for this reason that shops there are so successful and that the place is full of life.

I urge you to reconsider changing the function of the building, the area is already surrounded by expensive bars and shops, why would we want anymore? It seems bizarre that you would want to turn something with no competition into some thing that is exactly the same as the area it's in. From a business point of view that seems very strange seeing as you want to reap back the 1.5 million pounds you have already spent on the building. Also surely you are going to be losing money if you ask all the shop and stall holders to leave especially over the Christmas period!!

There are many people who are against your proposals (nearly 10,000 people). This proves that the Corn Exchange matters to citizens of Leeds. It also shows that people don’t think there is a need for more upmarket food establishments.
Please listen to the voices of the people of Leeds,

Kind regards

What can you do to Save the Corn Exchange

The Corn Exchange in Leeds is under threat to become a corporatised food chain outlet!!

But there is a chance to stop this. The ongoing campaign to Save the Corn Exchange is having its influence: Council and Zurich ARE in crisis talks, hundreds have come to the protests, huge coverage in the local press, over 10,000 people in the facebook campaign, 1,000s of petition signatures......

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!!

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO *SAVE THE CORN EXCHANGE*

• WRITE LETTERS to Zurich (managers of the building) and to local politicians.
• Come to the PROTEST on SATURDAY 15TH OF DEC @1.30 in front of the Corn Exchange
• Join the Save Corn Exchange (+10,000) facebook group http://leedsac.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7590902201
• Sign a petition to Save the Corn Exchange in one of the shops
• Sign an online petition: http://www.gopetition.co.uk/petitions/save-leeds-corn-exchange/sign.html
• Visit and shop at the Corn Exchange and show solidarity to traders
• Write a letter to the Yorkshire Evening Post yep.digital@ypn.co.uk with the subject: Corn Exchange