Stratford residents feel overlooked amid rapid local changes and gentrification, despite efforts from Newham Council.
Michael Fetton misses old Stratford’s feel. He knows London changes over time though. Stratford changed a lot before the 2012 Olympics. They built the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park then.
Fetton thinks old Stratford is ignored now. He says everyone prefers the new, fancy area. Many locals have low-paying jobs. Their lives haven’t really improved, he noticed.
The Olympics brought money to the area. But things were hard after everyone left, says Fetton. He recalls many homeless people after the games. He also remembers drug use in old Stratford. That area didn’t benefit much from the Olympics.
Geoff Harvey sees some good changes though. He runs a stall in old Stratford Shopping Centre since years. His stall is busy with Westfield shoppers passing through. But he knows Stratford has problems still.
He’s disturbed by the homeless people at night. It is something he never gets used to seeing. Harvey even had someone try to rob his van. Rudeness bothers him the most now.
He says people don’t say “please” or “thank you”. Some even steal grapes from his stall. Janet Barnwell has a food stall inside the market. The council saved it last year.
She likes the new housing. But it puts a strain on her business. She explains her stall is too expensive now. Prices were lower before Stratford’s changes. Soon, people won’t be able to afford it, she fears.
Another shop owner wants to stay anonymous. He says his business is struggling since Westfield opened. He states almost everyone’s business is bad. He says Westfield is too expensive though. He asks what to do if he cannot pay rent.
Newham Council says Stratford has great shopping and transport. Also, they are building a rich cultural life. They saved Stratford Market Village, they say. The council will work with local businesses. Newham’s council tax is quite low. It is the lowest in outer London currently.