By Tan Parsons and James Rosenthal POP princess Kate Nash played a secret gig in Highgate last week in protest at plans to regenerate Camden Stables Market. The singer played songs from her debut album Made Of Bricks to a packed crowd of avid fans at the

By Tan Parsons and James Rosenthal

POP princess Kate Nash played a secret gig in Highgate last week in protest at plans to regenerate Camden Stables Market.

The singer played songs from her debut album Made Of Bricks to a packed crowd of avid fans at the Boogaloo pub in Archway Road.

Speaking between songs she said: "I only found out about the plans for the Stables Market very recently. This is our London and we shouldn't let other people change the place where we live. You have to stand up for what you believe in. If the market did close then I don't know where I'd buy all my clothes."

The singer urged the audience to sign the Save Camden Stables Market Campaign petition against the scheme, and to get all their "friends, workmates and grannies" to do the same.

Developer Richard Caring and Partners was given planning permission by Camden Council in October to regenerate the famous landmark.

The £12million project will create two four storey buildings around an open atrium site covering 10,000 square metres.

It is the final piece in plans to transform the market. Last year a £15million development on the site of the former Gilbey's Yard was completed. It includes shops, offices and the massive Gilgamesh restaurant and bar.

Opponents of the plans claim the new development, which would include escalators and extensive glass paneling, would not fit in with the surrounding area.

A statement from the campaign coordinator Suki Jacobs was read out before the performance in which she railed against the recent eviction notices given to 60 traders in and around the market.

In the statement she said: "Ken Livingstone has been bombarded with emails and has so far declined to respond in any way. The developers have tried to convince the public they're doing it for our good but tourists, traders, historians and Londoners do not want it."

Camden Town-based musician Graham Coxon has joined the chorus of campaigners against the plans. And traders at the market are also furious.

Abdul Daydul, from 750 clothes store, said: "Closing this place was very sudden, and I'm obviously very sad. Management is giving us a new place, but they haven't found it yet. We don't know where to go."

Hemp Garden shopkeeper Ahmed Rokay said: "I feel terrible and I don't know where to go. It's difficult, where can I sell my merchandise? We don't know what we are doing"

And Ajmal Sarwari from Hat 4 U said: "They are going to build a building and make more money by building more units. Obviously, we're not alright. Our shop is closing for at least six months and I don't know where to put our stuff.

"They promised they would give us space. They haven't given us a new shop or much notice."

A week before Kate Nash's concert the campaign group's petition had 5,000 signatures, but by the time of the gig that was up to 11,000.

A spokesman for Stables said: "There is a lot of misinformation circulating about the new development.

"We respect that people care a vast amount about the market, and with that in mind we have spent six years designing the new building to ensure that the market keeps its atmosphere. It has been designed to accommodate small, independent shops. All of the tenants have been invited to return to their original location and a large number of features are staying the same.