New health and safety rules have been introduced at New Spitalfields Market designed to put an end to the practice of over-trading and blocking pedestrian and forklift access.
Market landlord the Corporation of London spent six months in consultation with tenants and Spitalfields Market Tenants Association (SMTA) before measures and sanctions were introduced on July 3.
“The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) made it clear that the roadways and walkways have got to be free and we spent six months preparing for it so that on the day, produce went behind the lines and we have had very few problems since,” said market superintendent Ken Alexander.
There have been a couple of instances when the new regulations have been breached and action has been swift and decisive. “We have put tape across the front of the stand until the pallets are clear,” said Alexander. “We have more than 100 wholesalers here and the vast majority understand that this has made the market safer and more efficient.”
The consultation and preparation period began early in the year and since then tenants have been developing strategies to cope with the problem of overtrading by building mezzanine levels on their stand, reviewing their stock ordering procedures and even taking on additional stand space.
“We drew up a road traffic management action plan and have looked at the problems and implemented HSE recommendations,” said Jim Heppel, chief executive of SMTA. “In a way, at Spitalfields we are victims of our own success - everyone wants to send produce here - but people have to got to be sensible and they can no longer look to overtrade and use the roadways.”
The new measures are enforced by the City of London Markets Police who patrol the market 24 hours a day. Produce can be removed with a forklift truck and impounded if it is in breach and a fine paid for its collection. In a worst case scenario, firms may also effectively be closed down for persistent offending.
“The important thing is that we are being fair and that all traders are now operating on a level playing field,” said Alexander.
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