Context 165 - August 2020

20 C O N T E X T 1 6 5 : A U G U S T 2 0 2 0 Civic ambitions have increased with Cambridge’s rapid growth (‘a further 14,000 homes to be provided or in the city by 2031’), and 7–8 million visitors a year. The city council allocated £100,000 provided by the Greater Cambridge Partnership from its 2018-9 budget towards ‘a strategic development project to enhance the economic, social and environmental value of the market square public realm as a key community asset to support the city’s growth.’2 The market did not feature in the project description. The council’s brief to its consultant BDP included the taking up and possible complete removal of the cobbles, and a ‘concept design (a) to maximise the availability and flexibility of outdoor public realm space to accommodate both commercial and com- munity use, including market, outdoor films, civic gatherings, commercial events (such as an ice rink), street performers, outdoor seating for restaurants and cafes, etc.’ BDP was asked to review how the market currently functioned day and night, and ‘how the day- and night-time offers could be improved to better support the needs of Cambridge as a global city.’ From talking with traders, Kati and I were aware that something was afoot, but the council had not talked to the individual traders, whose livelihoods were most directly affected. A range of invited stakeholders did not include the interested public and market customers such as ourselves. Thanks to the dynamism of one stallholder, Glenys Self (who has been selling her jewellery on the market for 20 years), a packed public meeting was held in January last year in Great St Mary’s, and the Friends of Cambridge Market came into being. But how to proceed? When the stalls are not of special historic inter- est in themselves, how to protect the market use and activity? Glenys set up a public petition to save the historic cobbles (setts), asking for them to be ‘re-set so they are wheelchair and disabled usable and easy to clean.’This gained over 1,000 signatures. I drafted an application to get the setts listed, together with some railings which form part of the mid-19th-century layout. I felt this was a very long shot; I had never previously heard of floorscape being listed. I submitted my report, backed by many supportive responses to the petition, in March 2019. In July, BDP submitted its feasibility assess- ment i to the council. This provides a good overview of the history of the space and the market, but a very partial assessment of sig- nificance.The market square is described as ‘the primary town square and public space of the city centre. A road frames the outer edge, while a permanent market for food and craft is erected in the centre of the square, dictating the use of the square. A historic fountain is in the centre, however it is hidden by the market …market square is a well-proportioned hard space that holds heritage elements, including the listed fountain and historic set paving. However, as the most prevalent feature of the space, the market use cur- rently hides many of these features… Views towards key facades are restricted by the central market, in particular prominent buildings such as Great St Mary’s and the Guildhall’ (my emphases). What a strange notion, that a historic market (albeit carried on in modern stalls) impedes views of the (much later) listed buildings on and around it! Contrast this with theVictoria County History’s assessment: ‘Cambridge was and is an important market centre. The market stands on one of the oldest inhabited sites of the borough and perpetually reminds the observer that the town is older than the university and has an independent raison d’être. No grant of a market by charter was necessary; it was established by local need and ancient custom well before the Norman Conquest’  3 . BDP suggested four possible levels of interven- tion, ranging from ‘re-pave, re-lay and de-clutter’ to ‘re-create the square – large infrastructure’. It did not mention, let alone tackle, the key issue (on which the 1995 project had foundered) of 2 https://democracy. cambridge.gov.uk/ documents/g3256/ Public%20reports%20 pack%2022nd-Feb- 2018%2018.05%20 Council.pdf?T=10 3 The City of Cambridge: economic history ,Victoria County History, London, 1959 The market and Great St Mary’s, with 1995 trial paving in the foreground (Photo: John Preston) The newly listed setts, with the fountain base in the background (Photo: Glenys Self)