The House of Lords has given its unconditional consent to Defra and Covent Garden Market Authority to appeal against the Court of Appeal’s December 2004 decision to overturn the right of Nine Elms traders to trade in meat and fish face-to-face.
Defra and CGMA presented separate petitions to the Lords, but may now merge their appeal submissions, which have to be made in the next six weeks.
It is thought that no hearing will take place before next spring. Until then the status quo will be maintained, in line with the Corporation of London’s previously successful appeal to stop meat and fish traders wholesaling face-to-face at New Covent Garden.
