New Spitalfields wholesale market received its annual visit from the incumbent Lord Mayor of London on Thursday and tenants chairman John Olney was frank about recent developments in the proposed restructure of wholesale markets in the capital.

The Lord Mayor Gavyn Arthur, MA and Lady Mayoress were given a tour of the market, accompanied by the local mayor and mayoress of Waltham Forest and representatives of the Corporation of London and Spitalfields market.

Olney last year told the Lord mayor's predecessor of the need for a level playing field for London's markets, adding that should trading licenses be extended at New Covent Garden, that should be reciprocated in E10. 'I am disappointed after 12 months, the way forward remains unresolved,' he said this week.

Specifically referring to Defra minister Lord Whitty's permission for Nine Elms to wholesale meat and fish face-to-face , Olney said: 'We will be pressing the markets committee to allow us the same opportunities that are extended to Covent Garden - it would be extremely unfair if we were not treated in the same way. We are pleased that the Corporation has said it will challenge the face-to-face wholesaling of meat and fish at Covent Garden.' The Spitalfields market tenants association made a £500 donation to the Lord Mayor Appeal's chosen charity, Save the Children.

Pictured left to right are: John Olney, Lady Mayoress Carole Blackshaw, Lord Mayor Gavin Arthur MA, Mayor of Waltham Forest Councillor Bob Belam, Mayoress of Waltham Forest Wanda Belam and Daniel Caspi, market committee chairman at the Corporation of London.

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