The benefits offered by a composite market are very compelling. To have an area dedicated to receiving produce from all over the world in large quantities and breaking this down to distribute to local restaurants, shops, stalls and secondary wholesalers would be very efficient.
Local deliveries from a composite site to restaurants could be sent on one vehicle with three compartments comprising of fish, meat and fruit and vegetables. I believe this would become more commonplace, resulting in reduced costs for the supplier and a significant reduction in the amount of delivery vehicles going into central London.
I honestly believe this would have a much bigger effect on the traffic congestion that London faces than the congestion charge has ever had. And, a new site would have the facilities for catering companies to be able to run electric vehicles.
Not to have a composite market servicing London and its suburbs is very disappointing. I believe there is, and has been for some time now, a great opportunity to create such a market.
There are, of course, massive hurdles to overcome. To find the right site in a good location is possibly the most important. To get all parties to agree to such a move, with enthusiasm, is also a challenge.
This scenario is not unprecedented. Some 25 years ago the Corporation of London started on plans to relocate Spitalfields Market from its central location in Bishopsgate to a site in the city’s east. Developers were chosen, tenants agreed to the move, and 21 years ago New Spitalfields Market was open for business.
Funding, of course, was a massive issue and this was achieved by the sale of the real estate where our old market was located. After all the costs of buying a new site, building a market, and relocating the traders, there were substantial funds left for the Corporation to show a good profit on the whole move. This is surely the situation that we find ourselves in today with the substantial value of the real estate of where the three city markets are located.
Nick Saphir obviously still believes wholeheartedly in the idea of a composite market. Our biggest challenge as traders is to get the relevant local authorities to also believe in this concept and that such a market could be achieved now.
London has just hosted possibly the most successful Olympic Games of all time. Many people have been credited with the success, but I think that the local London authorities worked tirelessly for many years and proved themselves very capable in achieving something amazing. I would say to them don’t stop, you are on a roll, give London the composite market that it surely deserves. -
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