The redevelopment of Vauxhall Cross continues to cause disruption to the lives and livelihoods of the tenants and customers of New Covent Garden.
Having already suffered on two separate occasions at the hands of a fractured gas main and burst water main, market traffic has now been brought to a standstill by Transport for London's (TfL) resurfacing programme, which has been taking place throughout October and is scheduled to affect weekends this month too.
The works will directly affect traffic both entering and leaving the market between midnight on Fridays and 5am on Mondays, while the horrendous hold-ups in the surrounding area have a knock-on effect on vehicles that have left the market.
'As far as we're concerned the major problem is that Transport for London have not seen fit at any stage to inform us or consult with us on any of these works,' said Helen Evans of Covent Garden Market Authority. 'We are the largest site of employment in the borough of Wandsworth and this is having a huge impact on the businesses here and their customers.
'Monday is one of our biggest trading days and Sunday night is therefore extremely busy with deliveries – but the roadworks have been in place until Monday at 5am.' The main entrance on Nine Elms Lane has been opened up as an exit route from 6.30am to mid-day, as the normal exit onto Vauxhall Cross has been snarled up on a regular basis. Diversions in the area are due to end on November 18, but there is no guarantee forthcoming from TfL that this date will not change.
Meanwhile, all users of the market have been advised to approach the market through Battersea and when leaving, turn left out of the main entrance using the temporary contra-flow system, and head for Battersea, avoiding Vauxhall Cross until the works are finished.
