Angry traders at New Covent Garden Market (NCGM) have taken to social media to raise awareness of their concerns about the £130 million market development project.
A Twitter account has been set up at a delicate time in the relationship between traders and Covent Garden Market Authority (CGMA), with traders voicing concerns in the national media that their views on aspects of the project are not being heard.
One of the first tweets from the Twitter account – @GardenTenants, which represents the views of the tenants’ association – was addressed to celebrity chefs Jamie Oliver, Gordon Ramsay and James Martin, while others included the hashtag #justiceforNCG.
“We have the full support of major chefs. We expect some celebrity chefs to make a statement on this shortly,” said Gary Marshall, chair of the tenants’ association.
Barry Porter, chair of tenants at the Flower Market, said he feels traders’ concerns have not been addressed: “The meetings have been a box to tick so they can say they’ve addressed the issue,” he said. “It’s the letter of the law rather than the meaning of the word. We don’t get any information. There’s no negotiation because they’ve decided they know best.”
However, Helen Evans, CGMA business development director, emphasised that the authority’s only concern is ensuring a vibrant future for the market, and said that this is something that unites both the tenants and the authority. She added that due to the complexity of the refurbishment, the project should be looked at as a whole.
But traders have said that the authority is unaware about the importance of certain details. Concerns include insufficient parking, a lack of information about upcoming costs leading to uncertainty, and fears that splitting the fruit and vegetable market halls during the transition period will threaten the viability of businesses.
Traders at the Flower Market are concerned about a reduction in trading space, fewer access doors and loading bays, and removal of the trained ‘carrying-in gang’ responsible for unloading and registering products.
“CGMA have left a lot of professional men in limbo. We have no idea about costs,” said Marshall. But Evans stressed: “There will be a rent review in April 2015 and the rent set at that point will be held throughout the seven-year build.
The conditional contract between CGMA and developers St. Modwen Properties is set to become unconditional within six months. Plans are currently with Wandsworth Council.
For in-depth analysis of both sides of the debate, see the next issue of FPJ, out 22 August.
