Covent Garden to be Replanned : Relief of Traffic Congestion
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BY A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
THE Government propose to combat the traffic problem represented by activities at Covent Garden market, London, by reducing it in size and providing modern buildings, and by developing Brentford and Stratford markets ts:i cut the number of retailers who at present come into central London to make their purchases.
This was announced in the House of Commons last week by Mr. John Hare, Minister of AgricUlture. The first step would be to provide storage premises elsewhere to accommodate bulk produce not required by retailers, and empty containers at present stored at the market. Temporary arrangements for this would be made pending the establishment of a market authority, which would concentrate business into a smaller area and ultimately provide and maintain up-to-date buildings.
The trade's reaction to the proposals is highly favourable, although legislation may not be introduced for two or three years to establish the authority with powers to purchase the major part of the market. The authority would undertake with the London County Council the rebuilding of the market to improve working efficiency.
The basic principle would be selfcontainment. A trading area with its own roads and lorry parks would be provided. Such a scheme might be embarked upon in 10 years, but as substantial capital investment is involved, the phasing of the work would be subject to the Government's economic policies.
Other Markets to be Improved It is hoped that all other London markets will be improved, especially Brentford and Stratford, and that there should be a full exchange of views between the various market authorities connected with the development.
The kind of market authority envisaged is a :body of five or six persons supported by a staff of experts and a number of. advisory committees. Merchants have been assured that none of them will be "squeezed out," and that the intention is to diminish congestion without reducing the trade and importance of the market.
Besides alleviating congestion, an alternative bulk store and a clearing house for' empties would recta-cc the fire risk. Both these facilities would he on the same or adjacent sites. When new facilities were built, they would be primarily for Covent Garden, but their use would not be denied to other markets.
Mr. Hare said that the tendency was for Covent Garden to become a sampling market, and that about eight acres of the present site was devoted to empties.
The proposal of the Runciman Committee, which investigated Greater London horticultural markets, that a new market be set up in the north-west of the city has been rejected.