Steve, I think what you are claiming is now verging on libel. The traders who sell at the market are small farms and producers, they sell groceries; bread, vegetables, fruit, fruit juice, meat, pasta, milk, butter, cheese, cakes. We also have some items that might not be considered by some essential; beer, olive oil, olives, tapenade, but these are things that people may wish to eat and can buy in a supermarket. Plus some take away food; salt beef sandwiches, beef burgers, sushi, mexican.As I already said, with employing marshals and buying barriers and cones and keeping stocks of hand sanitiser, disposable cloths and sanitising spray, the market is not making a lot of money for the Trust and is taking a great deal more time to manage. It is, however, along with other food markets, the sole income of most of our farmers and small businesses. If you are deprived of your sole income, you are in a vulnerable and perilous situation. You cannot pay your bills, you may lose your business. The market and traders are operating within the law. We have more measures in place than a lot of food shops and supermarkets. We have a marshal at the entrance controlling numbers and making sure people wear a mask or we have a stock of masks and sell them one, if they haven't. I haven't seen that happening at any shop. We have another marshal, plus the market manager to remind people not to gather and ask them to socially distance. I don't know how many shops are doing that. A our stall holders have to wear a mask. The market is in the open air, which reduces transmission risk.We initially closed the public toilet, but following government advice that having public toilets closed was creating health and equalities issues and encouraging council's and others to re open them, we did and have a cleaning regime, signage, hand gel, sanitising spray and disposable cloths to reduce transmission risk.As part of managing COVID risk I monitor the changes in advice and checked again last week if the advice was still t keep public toilets pen. It is, so we are.The Environmental Team visit almost every week. They give us good feedback and have not asked us to change anything since we first engaged with them and took on board their advice at the start of the crisis.The market is the only place to buy fresh food south of the A316 and one of only a few places south of the A4. The others are the Co op opposite Chiswick Station and some small convenience stores. There is not sufficient capacity for every household in the country to to receive a regular grocery delivery. People want to be able to eat fresh food.I realise that this post will have no impact on you, but am posting to correct some incorrect, misleading and damaging statements you have made.
Kathleen Healy ● 2114d