THE future of Queen’s Crescent Market has been plunged into uncertainty after its managers quit in a row with the council over running costs.

The twice-weekly market has seen a revival after control was  switched from the Town Hall to Queen’s Crescent Community Association (QCCA), a not-for-profit charity, two years ago.

But disagreements over the cost of rubbish removal, cleaning and the repair of electric bollards have rumbled on, and the QCCA now says it has been left with impossible bills.

Negotiations have collapsed and the QCCA confirmed yesterday (Wednesday) that it was handing back its management to the council. 

The upheaval means Camden must find a new partner to take over the running of the market, or commit extra spending to it. A spokeswoman said last week that the council would not be able to “subsidise it indefinitely”. 

It also sparks a fresh debate over whether voluntary groups can be expected to run services normally carried out by local authorities on a long-term basis, a strategy which has been used with the management of some libraries as cost-cutting has continued at the Town Hall.

Both Camden and the QCCA released press statements with their frustrations framed as politely as they could.

But the New Journal understands discussions have often been fraught in recent weeks, with sources in both camps, the QCCA and the Labour-run council, suggesting they have been let down by the other, at the market’s expense, to some extent. 

Insiders at the charity said the financial expectations placed on it by Camden had been unrealistic. 

The New Journal reported in June how the market had been revived with training courses and try-out pitches for new traders. It is showing signs of returning to its 1980s heyday with the arrival of a diverse range of stalls. Spicy olive stalls and hot food takeaways now trade side-by-side with discount clothing and duvet sellers.

A council spokeswoman said Camden was “incredibly saddened” by the QCCA’s decision to quit, but added: “The market long term does need to cover its costs as this bill is diverting very limited council resources from other essential areas where they could be used, and although QCCA agreed to pay, they haven’t so far.”

She added that Town Hall chiefs thought “it was reasonable to ask for a business plan that indicates how the market will move towards full cost recovery over time, as the council can’t afford to subsidise it indefinitely”.

A QCCA statement said its work had revived a market “dying on its feet”, but added: “During the two years, electricity bollards, vital to stallholders, were often inoperable and also a public health and safety hazard. Gates were in disrepair and continually damaged too. Going forward, such items were also going to be QCCA’s financial and legal responsibility, even on non-market days.”

It added:  “In reaching its decision the board had to take into consideration its other activities, particularly its children’s services, youth work and its seniors’ programmes. These are services which are about  to suffer substantial cuts by the council and members should now focus on these issues.”