The general positivity surrounding the move of Western International this Monday was upset by a row over the timing of the move, and the refusal of the council and the Western International Market Tenants’ Association (WIMTA) to postpone it.
In the aftermath, tenants’ association chairman George Bray has resigned after 14 years in the role. His full letter of intention to resign, below, was sent out to tenants on Wednesday morning this week.
Dear Member,
I took on the role of chairman of Western International Market Tenants’ Association (WIMTA) in 1994, saying that I would remain as chairman until the new market was completed. Little did I know then that it would take 14 years.
It has been a long and often difficult path. But I am sure that the efforts of everybody concerned will pay dividends in the new market, and I am proud to have seen this project through to its conclusion.
It is now time for me to resign as chairman and to spend more time on my other interests. I will formally tender my resignation to the directors at the board meeting on July 16, 2008.
I offer to my successor all my best wishes!
I would also like to take this opportunity to put straight all rumours and innuendo currently circulating in the market.
Firstly, the contractor many companies used, Shaping Change (Dick Woodcock) had the most work, by value, in the new market and, barring minor snagging, finished all the work he had undertaken on time.
Some people chose different contractors who appeared cheaper and promised the earth. Sadly, and without wishing to score points, it has to be said they could not deliver, the result being the scenario in which we are now forced to work in a partial building site.
There were other contractors besides Shaping Change who did finish on time - well done to them!
All this having been said, the directors, along with the London Borough of Hounslow, met on June 26 to consider an extension of the moving date by one week. The directors concluded that, although this was very inconvenient to a number of parties, we would extend by one week, provided that a decision was made by June 27.
No such decision was made by the London Borough of Hounslow, and in my opinion any less than one week’s notice was unacceptable.
The date for moving had been set in stone and I recall the often mentioned phrase that we were “going ready or not”.
All tenants and their contractors had the same amount of time to complete the work. Some members, for varying reasons, simply could not have stayed in the old market and would have been forced to close, whereas everybody could trade in the new market, even though their stands were not finished.
It would have been wrong if the tenants who had done everything our landlords had asked of them in terms of deadlines had been disadvantaged, in favour of those who chose a contractor who had overstretched himself and was clearly unable to finish the work he had undertaken.
On behalf of all the tenants who used Dick Woodcock (Shaping Change), I would like to thank him for actually finishing on time, on budget and to a very high standard of craftsmanship and materials.
Lastly, I would like to thank the many members who sent me their messages of support and their thanks for the work I have undertaken on their behalf.
Many of the customers have told me how nice the new environment is, and I am sure that, when everything settles down and the work is finished, Western International Market will remain one of the best, if not the best, wholesale horticultural market in the UK.
Good luck and best wishes for a profitable future for all of us!
George EC Bray, Chairman, WIMTA
A letter sent out last Thursday by Angela Rench, deputy director of corporate property for the London Borough of Hounslow, outlined the reasons why the decision to move as planned into the new market was taken.
The letter, sent to all tenants after a meeting with WIMTA, said: “The majority of the tenants have satisfactorily completed their fit-out works and have made all the necessary arrangements to move to start trading from their new stand on July 7.
“A number of tenants are not ready; the reasons are various, but include those who put their works on hold during the tendering process for bigger units, those who were successful in bidding for larger units, tenants who changed their fit-out specification, and some tenants who did not even instruct a contractor until very recently.
“The council offered to delay the move by one week, but this was rejected on the grounds that those tenants who had completed their fit-out would suffer financially through no fault of their own. The council offered to keep the existing market open to accommodate those tenants not ready to move. However, the tenants consulted considered that a “split” market would be detrimental to some businesses, and consequently all tenants should move together. This is not ideal, but the council understands the difficulties caused to those who have complied with the Tenant Handbook [sent to all tenants in February] and achieved the July 7 date.”
Rench added that the council would make coldstores in the old market available for seven to 14 days for tenants still short of completing their fit-out.
GOOD MOVE FOR WESTERN BANANA CENTRE
Gill White of Western Banana Centre, vice-chairman of WIMTA, said: “Personally, the move went very well. We had access to the warehouse well in advance and spent a lot of time planning the move. Some tenants’ units were not completed in time, and they have had to deal with that, but really it was down to each individual tenant.
“Up until a week ago, all the contractors said they would be finished in time, other than a couple of the units that came up for re-tender at late notice. At the very least, tenants were assured that if their units were not complete, they would be fit to work in.
“By the time the contractors changed their minds, it wasn’t an option [to delay the move], and the council vetoed a postponement having consulted its legal department. The tenants were all made aware of the timetable and given a guide to everything that was happening. The majority were ready for the move. There was discussion about delaying the opening for a week or two, but those who were ready were committed, and what nobody wanted was a fragmented market. The date was set in stone; why should the people who were ready be disadvantaged?
“It was not an ideal situation and we were never going to be able to please everybody, but it was important that everybody moved together.”
White said that, on a positive note, footfall was obviously up on the first day in the new site and, although the traffic had been a little chaotic, once the council has put new road markings down, she felt the market would begin to function normally.
RELOCATION LONG OVERDUE, SAYS VITACRESS
Charles Rees of Vitacress Sales said it has been the “end of a tumultuous week for us”, following not only the move to the new Western International, but the announcement last week that Vitacress was acquired by Portuguese company RAR Group.
“The old market was very tired and this move was long overdue,” said Rees. “Things still need to be finished, and it will be two to three weeks before it is completely done.
“But the landlord has been brilliant. Angela Rench at Hounslow Council has even been here helping out, tidying up with a broom in her hand.
“I have only seen flower customers so far this morning, but they are more than happy with the new area we have here for Vitacress Flowers.”
C&B SALADS “UNHAPPY ON THE DAY”
Joe Carlaw of C&B Salads, who used the contractor HESL, said he was “very unhappy” to have moved to the new site in what he felt was a premature relocation. “We have no telephones, no offices, no electrics. I am very unhappy, and am not the only one in this situation.
“It will take a lot of getting used to. The parking is terrible, especially if you have a big lorry. The move was made too early, and it will be three to four weeks before it is sorted out.
“We are not getting a fair crack of the whip - we can’t even use the phone. There should have been a two- to three-week delay before we moved.
“When it’s all finished, it will probably be very nice, but at the moment our stand is not finished and we are not happy.”
“TOTAL SEA CHANGE” FOR WESTERN FOOD IMPORTERS
The move went “fantastically well” for Kanti Patel from Western Food Importers, which used to be known as WIM Cash & Carry. “We have a total change of position in the new market - we were the last stand in the old site, but the first one here. It is a total sea change for us,” he told FPJ.
“It’s a real hive of activity here and it is totally buzzing. We came in at the weekend, and, of course, there were a few hiccups on the first morning, including a few issues on parking, but that’s life. We’re in and we’re working, and our customers are happy and pleased with what we’re doing.”
GOOD AS CAN BE EXPECTED, SAYS OWEN
“The move went as well as expected - there were a few teething problems, but the customers seem happy,” said Andrew Owen of trader Owen Owen. “The porter doesn’t know the routes yet, so it is taking some time to get used to, but we’re in now. People are always resistant to change.
“These facilities are much more modern - everything was on its last legs in the old site, and we didn’t maintain it because we knew this move was coming. This is a luxury in comparison.”
THUMBS UP AT FLOWER CENTRE
Robbie Finon from The Flower Centre said there was “some stress involved” during the move itself over the weekend, but the difference between the old and new facilities is “a world apart”.
“These are good, modern temperature-controlled facilities, and we have a dedicated plant room and cut flower area, etc. We have much more space, and it’s just a really pleasant environment for our customers to shop in,” he said.
Customers were largely impressed, despite one or two unfinished sections, he added. “It is business as usual, despite one or two glitches. We moved in on Thursday, and did a couple of 17-hour days on Thursday and Friday to facilitate the move.”
SMT HAPPY DESPITE COMMUNICATION BLIP
Raj Thakrar of SMT Fruit & Veg said that the move went very well, but BT let them down. “We have no telephone connections,” he said. “Our business is conducted via phone, and this morning I can’t talk to customers or suppliers. It has very definitely affected our business.
“However, I think it was the right weekend to move, and we have had a good reaction from people walking around. Other than the phone situation, we are fairly happy,” he said.
LATE TENDER PAYING OFF
David Street of Knight & Rawlings, who was one of the last traders to secure a unit through a late tender, said: “The first day has been quite busy; we have had a few problems because the unit is not finished, but we have seen more people than normal.”
Street was one of the WIMTA board members whose situation changed in the course of a few days a fortnight ago. “On the Thursday, I wanted the move to be put back, but by the Monday, I was committed to moving on time.
“Most of the problems people are having are down to contractors not finishing on time; they said everything would be ready, then changed their mind. It was left too late for timings to change. Once the problems were aired, things were already in motion for most companies.”
BRIGHT TIMES FOR FRUITY FRESH
Ashok Chowdry from wholesaler and importer Fruity Fresh, enjoyed a good response from customers to his new premises. “They have said it is small, clean and very nice. It is a much brighter space here, and it is great that all the stands here are much closer together. With the exception of a few problems, the move went very well,” he said.
“SUPERB” RESPONSE TO PREMIER FRUITS
“We’ve had the usual hiccups you would expect with a big move, but on the whole it has gone smoothly,” said Premier Fruits’ Ian Conn. “As a company, we have invested a lot into this relocation, and the response this morning so far has been superb. We have attracted a lot of new customers.
“Put simply, the market has come from the 19th century into the 21st century. We had very primitive facilities at the old site, and now we have come into the modern day.
“A number of firms are not finished yet and there has been negative feedback from them, but we have all got to be positive and think ahead.”
STAFF PUT IN THE EFFORT AT HG WALKER
Bob Webster from wholesaler HG Walker said that following months of planning, the move went smoothly. “It was certainly not as difficult as we thought it might be,” he said. “There have been no major hiccups, and I would like to thank the staff, who have bent over backwards for the good of the firm, with many of them even coming off paternity leave to help out.
“We all realise that this new market is the future for us,” he added.
No comments yet