Politics · United Kingdom · 5 hrs ago
Kingston market to stay closed for nine days after fire safety inspection
The Ancient Market Place in Kingston-upon-Thames, south London, will remain closed until at least 18 October after a fire damaged stalls there.
The fire began early on Tuesday and destroyed a number of stalls in the 800-year-old market square.
Eight people were evacuated, and the fire service has declared the blaze accidental.
A Friday inspection found further safety concerns, so Kingston Council extended the closure to allow repairs, removal of damaged stalls and clean-up.
Traders will not pay pitch fees while the market is closed, and the council is working to find temporary locations for those whose stalls were destroyed.
Businesses around the edge of the market that were not affected can open as usual.
The council says it will reopen the market as soon as it is safe, but no reopening date beyond 18 October has been given.
Kingston’s Ancient Market Place will remain closed until Sunday 18 October after an inspection identified further safety concerns following a fire.
The closure began on Saturday and will last nine days, allowing safety repairs, removal of damaged stalls and clean-up work.
Kingston Council said public safety was its priority and that traders would not pay pitch fees while the market was closed.
The fire destroyed a range of stalls in the 800-year-old square and led to eight people being evacuated from properties.
Businesses around the market’s perimeter that were unaffected by the fire will remain open as usual.
- Who
- Kingston Council is closing the market; traders and the public are affected.
- What
- Ancient Market Place will remain closed for nine days for safety work and clean-up after a fire.
- When
- The closure began on Saturday and is due to last until Sunday 18 October.
- Where
- Ancient Market Place in Kingston-upon-Thames town centre, south London.
- Why
- An inspection identified further safety concerns, and repairs and preparations to remove damaged stalls are needed.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
the safety of everyone who uses the market is our priority and we will take every precaution necessary.
We’ve taken the responsible decision to close the market to protect traders and the public.
We were woken up by the heat and the sound of the fire. We could just see an orange glow around the curtains
A fire broke out at Ancient Market Place and destroyed a range of stalls.
An inspection identified further safety concerns at the market.
The market closure began.
The market is due to reopen after nine days of closure.
- Closure period
- Nine days
- Scheduled reopening
- Sunday 18 October
- Evacuated
- Eight people
- Market age
- 800-year-old square
- Market operator
- Between the Bridges
Sources
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