A south London market will remain closed until Sunday, October 18, after an inspection found further safety concerns following a fire that destroyed several stalls.
The local council said the nine-day closure, which began on Saturday, would allow remedial work to take place and crews to prepare for the removal of damaged stalls and a clean-up of the site.
The closure affects the Ancient Market Place in Kingston town centre.
A south London market that was severely damaged in a fire will remain closed
The council said the additional safety issues were identified during an inspection on Friday. It said the decision had “not been taken lightly”, but the work was essential to protect traders and the public.
The fire broke out at about 4.30am on Tuesday, October 6. Eight people were evacuated from nearby properties, while around 25 firefighters tackled the blaze.
The London Fire Brigade declared the fire accidental, and police found no suspicious circumstances. A fridge with an electrical fault is thought to have caused it.
Council leader Andreas Kirsch said the authority was working with market operator Between The Bridges to support affected traders.
Traders will not pay pitch fees while the market is closed, and the council is seeking temporary locations for those whose stalls were destroyed.
Kingston has hosted a market for centuries, with the earliest surviving records dating to the early 13th century
Council officers are also discussing options with the operator to help limit traders’ lost income. Businesses around the perimeter that were not affected by the fire are expected to open as usual, the council said.
The 800-year-old market had more than 25 permanent stalls and traded daily from 10am to 5pm. Its traders included a fishmonger, greengrocers, a florist, an artisan bakery and food stalls.
Plans to revamp the market were submitted to Kingston Council in January. They include replacement stalls, a central piazza, a restaurant, a bar and a roof terrace; a decision on the proposals has yet to be made.
