Yasmin Khalil reports on a bright spot in Dagenham.
With the drawn-out demise of British car manufacturing, the slow contraction of the once-vast Ford’s estate means that Dagenham has long been associated with economic decline.
On a much smaller scale, of course, but at least the open air market is doing something to light up the local economy.
With its 300 stalls, Dagenham Market is now the place to go for fashionable clothes at a fraction of the normal price. Patterned leggings, for example, selling at £10 a pair on the High Street, can be bought at the market for £3.99. ‘You don’t have to pay through the roof to look good,’ explained Sibel (19), who shops for clothes here each week.
But one punter, who wished to remain anonymous, remained unconvinced about the quality of goods on sale. ‘I would never wear these products myself, but as they are so cheap, I don’t think twice about buying them for family and friends,’ she confessed.