Examination of Witnesses (Questions 3940
- 3959)
3940. I said on trade. You see, my concern about
this is that that is a figure which is not too difficult for clever
chaps like you to work out. I am just wondering why you have not
worked it out. You are not willing to give an undertaking but
you do not know what you are not willing to undertake; that is
the concern I have.
(Mr Anderson) I think on the basis of the work
we have done I would not expect there to be an extremely adverse
effect on the operation of the market.
3941. But you do not know.
(Mr Anderson) A calculation of that has not
been done.
3942. Mr Binley: Could that be done,
just to reassure us that the interests are protected?
3943. Sir Peter Soulsby: Could you refresh
our memories as to the proportion loading space that is likely
to be lost if none were possible on Lindsey Street? It might be
helpful to go back to the plan, the one which shows the whole
of the loading space around the market.
3944. Mr Elvin: It is P49, page 49.[34]
3945. Sir Peter Soulsby: I think it might
enable members of the Committee to get an idea of what proportion
of the loading space is being lost.
(Mr Anderson) Our estimate is that there are
about 20 bays available in the area bounded by the red line. So
on that basis and on the basis that we believe that some of those
bays could be reallocated elsewhere in the market area it would
be a relatively small effect on the overall loading capacity available.
3946. Sir Peter Soulsby: I think that
is very helpful.
3947. Mr Binley: If I could ask another
question, Chairman, with respect. This is a sizeable market areas
and it is an area where particular merchants specialise in particular
products, is that so?
(Mr Anderson) I believe that to be the case,
yes.
3948. So in truth, for given products this loading
bay is particularly important to certain traders, is it not?
(Mr Anderson) I am sure it is, yes.
3949. Mr Binley: That is my concern.
It is not the overall effect on an overall market if they are
just selling one product, it is the specific effect upon specific
traders selling specific products, and that is the work that you
have not done, and that concerns me, and I think it could be done
relatively easily and taken into account as a part of your decision
about undertakings.
3950. Sir Peter Soulsby: Do we have anywhere
in addition to this very helpful plan in front of us a schedule
saying how many loading bays there were in total in different
parts of the market and what proportions are being lost were the
worse case scenario to arise here? It might help the members of
the Committee to see the context.
3951. Mr Elvin: I do not think we have
but we can probably provide one.
3952. Sir Peter Soulsby: I think it might
be helpful in the light of those questions to see how many spaces
there are, how many will be lost in Lindsey Street and how many
might be relocated elsewhere?
3953. Mr Elvin: Can I say in response
to that question that we have no idea because we have not been
given the information and I suspect that the traders may not be
too happy to divulge what the turnover is of those individual
units that might be affected. We cannot do an estimate when we
do not have the financial information.
3954. Sir Peter Soulsby: I think what
I was looking for was the loading space being lost rather than
any loss of trade that might result from it.
3955. Mr Elvin: We will see if we can
give you the figures overnight.
3956. Mr Dingemans: May I ask one question
arising out of that?
Further examined by Mr Dingemans
3957. Mr Dingemans: It is really to Mr
Hopkins' question, which related to you also, Mr Binley, just
to show the location of units. Can I ask the Committee to be shown
A44, page 55? This is the map with the layout. Mr Anderson, if
you look at that document, some of the market traders' evidence
this morning was that those in the east market would be most affected
by the loss of Lindsey Street. Is this right, that you cannot
park in Grand Avenue?
(Mr Anderson) I believe that is
the case.
3958. You can only park in Lindsey Street or
East Poultry Avenue or along the outside?
(Mr Anderson) Correct, although I think there
is some further parking around the Rotunda that Mr Farthing alluded
to this morning.
3959. But the concern of those occupying the
units towards the right hand side of the picture, as we now look
at it, is that Lindsey Street—and this is why you have very
kindly given an undertaking to keep open the Buyers Market door—is
effectively where you are carrying out market meat and that is
why Lindsey Street is so important for those traders at the corner.
Is that something you accept?
(Mr Anderson) It is certainly the most convenient
for them.
34 Crossrail Ref: P49, Petitioner Response Document
to the Petition of Smithfield Market Tenants' Association., (LONDLB-28004-049). Back
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