AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

Autumn start for Nine Elms market

26th July 1968, Page 21
26th July 1968
Page 21
Page 21, 26th July 1968 — Autumn start for Nine Elms market
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

by Carolyn Hyams • Establishment of the new fruit and vegetkble market at the Nine Elms site on the iouth Thames Embankment, west of Vauxiall Bridge, came a step nearer last week when details and plans were shown to raders by the Covent Garden Market Auhority. It hopes to get the plans passed by he Greater London Council by September o that construction can get under way in he autumn.

Under the 1966 Covent Garden Market ket, the new £30m market was due to open 3n January 1 1972 but the general manager 3f the Authority, Mr. C. M. G. Allen, told ne this week that it was likely to be the end if that year before the market was fully peration al.

The fruit and vegetable market will have 3arking for 2,000 commercial vehicles with t further 520 capable of being accommolated in the adjacent flower market. It is !stimated that 6,000 lorries a day will pass hrough the complex.

The Authority has completed the pur:hase of the 64-acre site and plans have been drawn up in consultation with interasted parties, including the RHA and TRTA. -laving experienced the crippling congestion ind unloading conditions which have perairied in Covent Garden for years, the 3lanners have concentrated on free flow for 'chicks working in the area, with car parkng facilities away from the main hub of narket activites. The fruit and vegetable market is planned in three 1,000ft sections with connecting walk-ways at mezzanine level. Each section is divided into 30 trading units and each bay will accommodate three lorries side by side with sufficient working space between them. Between each block of buildings, 150 feet will allow for two maximum-length vehicles of 15m to be parked opposite each other with an approximately 50ft passage between them.

During the peak period between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. when retail traders come with their smaller vans to buy their produce, this area will permit parking at the bays with a central parking reservation as well.

The entrance at Nine Elms Lane will be controlled by traffic lights and if it is found that the three standby lorry parks in the central market are filling up, lorries will be directed to wait in the park opposite the multi-storey car park. However, this is not expected to be for more than 15 to 20min and in practice might not prove necessary at all.

Warehouses are situated above the trading units and produce unloaded from vehicles by forklift truck will be carried to the stores by elevator. Any consignments which traders do not require on their stands can be placed in the communal bulk store which has its own unloading area. Electric vehicles will be used to take goods from the bulk store straight into the warehouses when required, as both are situated on the upper level.

Any vehicle delivering at the start of the complex will be forced to travel through the entire 43.2 acre area through a newly constructed tunnel under the viaduct to the exit in Wandsworth Road. Except in emergencies, all vehicles will have to leave by this exit but this virtual one-way traffic should eliminate congestion.

Under the viaduct there will be two exit lanes and one lane for vehicles coming from the railhead and the flower market. This railhead will be the arrival centre for all perishable goods which will immediately be palletized and re-routed to various destinations. Goods for the vegetable market will be carried by BR internal transport vehicles.

Hauliers will be offered office accommodation in the administration block at the

north end of the area. There will also be warehousing under the flower market which the Authority hopes will be leased to supermarkets and chain stores for produce packing and redistribution throughout the country in own-account transport.

In Glasgow, too, a major reorganization of fruit and produce handling is pending, the Corporation's new Blochairn, £1.7m market being well advanced. Target completion date is November 1968 and this should be maintained.

Leading transport groups are moving into or near this area to link up with the new situation and further moves along these lines are expected. The firm of Charles Alexander and Partners has a major depot scheduled for this area.

The existing Candleriggs Market will be abandoned, leaving this area for redevelopment.

Tags

Organisations: Greater London Council
Locations: Glasgow

comments powered by Disqus