A sweetcorn trader on Manchester's Market Street says social media influencers are damaging legitimate businesses, as tensions grow over the area's future. Danny, 29, who runs a sweetcorn and chocolate strawberry stall, said he has faced abuse and filming in recent months.
Trader's concerns over filming and abuse
Danny, who is president of the Market Street traders WhatsApp group, said his stall was recently targeted by someone recording with glasses containing a small camera. A video was posted on TikTok, part of a growing collection of footage about spots in Manchester such as Market Street and Piccadilly Gardens.
Danny said he was not aware his stall was being filmed during the encounter and felt upset at how the video was captured. He said the issue is becoming more common on Manchester's busiest street.
“We have all our licences from the council everything, the council have been here and checked three times, we have a five-star hygiene rating,” Danny said, who came to the UK from Pakistan to study his master's degree.
“But some people are coming and shouting at us. We’re not British but we came here legally, we studied here and got work visas, but we couldn’t find jobs, so we started this small stall business, and Market Street is the best street.”
Growing tensions and a petition
The Manchester Evening News (M.E.N) spotted at least four different sweetcorn stalls on Market Street on a grey Thursday afternoon on August 20, with people buying the product in large numbers. Most traders buy sweetcorn from nearby supermarkets and cook it on the street with various flavours and spices.
Danny employs more than 20 people who work part-time hours at the stalls. He said he is worried about how social media influencers could damage legitimate traders in a bid for views and turn public opinion against the businesses.
“In the last two months we’ve been facing a very big problem,” he said. “People are coming and taking videos, shouting at us, and now there’s a petition against us. In the last three or four years I’ve never had any problems or difficulties, but people are coming enjoying the corn as you can see.”
“But people are coming and thinking we are illegal, they behave like we are illegal, even we are being attacked. I’m running one stall, all my family depend on this stall, and not just one family, we support two or three other families.”
“If we earn £100 a day that’s a lot of money for us, but people are making movies about us and shouting at us, while others are coming to enjoy the corn. Yesterday someone came and was shouting abuse at us, harassing us, telling us to go away from here, and he hit the sweetcorn cart.”
Calls for a review of Market Street
A petition has been launched calling for a review of public space management on Market Street and Piccadilly Gardens, collecting more than 550 signatures since it was set up last month. It calls on Manchester City Council to undertake a comprehensive review to improve accessibility, pedestrian flow, public safety, noise management, and the overall experience of the city centre.
The petition raises concerns about 'amplified sound', 'public preaching', and 'Gazebos, stalls, displays, and other temporary structures that reduce pedestrian space'. It also singles out 'licensed and unlicensed street trading' on Market Street, which it says is adding to congestion.
The petitioners suggest that 'designated locations for organised activities' or 'reasonable controls on amplified sound' could improve things. They ask the council to consider whether the concentration of multiple organised activities in the same locations is appropriate.
Mixed views from the public
Linda, 73, who has worked in a food van on Market Street for three and a half years, said the street does not need changing, just cleaning up a little. She said: “I don’t think it needs changing though, maybe just cleaning it up a little bit. There’s nothing wrong with Market Street, and we see the council out quite a bit. It would be nice to see a bit more police about.”
Solomon Purnell, 16, who makes football content on the street with a cameraman, said it is quite good for them and most people are friendly. He said: “I could see why some people would want change, with the stalls, and it can get a bit congested at times. It’s unique.”
Rihan Xia, 24, who works at a temporary stall offering promotional products, said the council sometimes talks to them about distributing items. He said: “We basically just find somewhere else to go, they’re not that picky, they’re just doing their jobs, and I totally understand that.”
Emelye Carroll-Nichols said the street can be quite hectic and overwhelming at times, but not out of control. Charlotte Badenoch, 28, who moved to Manchester from Cornwall three years ago, said the street can be fun but also busy, loud and overstimulating, especially with street performers.
Council response
Manchester City Council said it is open to working with the petitioners about making positive changes to both Market Street and Piccadilly Gardens. Councillor Garry Bridges, interim leader at the council, said: “Market Street and Piccadilly Gardens are amongst Manchester's busiest and most popular spaces and whilst it's good that there are vibrant things happening on the street there are definitely things which seem to cause more nuisance than others.”
He added: “We will engage with the petitioners and continue to work with officers and partners to seek the ideal solution for activities in Piccadilly Gardens and Market Street.”
