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'Rats and rubbish' row at London food market

Luxmy GopalLondon
News imageBBC A row of street food stalls with black canopy tents set up along a city street. Several customers queue at the counters while others walk past. The stalls display bright orange menu boards and food images, and apartment buildings can be seen in the backgroundBBC
The Petticoat Lane Food Court was established by the council in 2009

Some residents living next to a street food market in east London say rats, rubbish and smoke from cooking stalls are making their lives a misery.

They claim traders at Petticoat Lane Food Court near Spitalfields are contributing to vermin infestations and anti-social behaviour, with residential garages allegedly being used as toilets due to a lack of facilities.

The food court, which is separate from the historic Petticoat Lane Market, was set up by Tower Hamlets Council in 2009 and is mainly made up of street food stalls.

A trader told BBC London there was "no basis" to some of the claims, while the council said it carried out "routine and intelligence-led" inspections of the area.

News imageFood Court Action Group A split image showing, on the left, a person holding a dead rat by head with tongs inside a kitchen near a window. On the right, rubbish including food waste, plastic bags, drinks cans and takeaway containers is scattered around a lamppost on a pavement beside a road.Food Court Action Group
A residents group claims the food court is causing littering and attracting vermin

Emmanuel Ray, a local resident and member of the Food Court Action Group, said he had seen "raw meat on a barrel with rats running around it".

"It's disgusting," he said.

He also alleged that traders had used garages in his building to relieve themselves.

"They have no running water, no sanitation facilities. So our garage became their toilet," he said.

However, traders at the market strongly rejected the claims.

Abdullah, who runs a stall at the food court, said officers regularly inspected the site.

"They have inspectors here every day in the morning, in the evening when we're shutting down, watching us, watching the drains, making sure that everything's done correctly. Otherwise we will be penalised," he said.

When shown photographs of rats and rubbish in the area, he added: "That's east London for you. There's rats all over London. How are we stopping rats? Are we [the] Pied Piper?"

News imageA close-up of a Abdullah being interviewed outdoors at a street food market. He is wearing a black padded jacket and standing in front of food stalls with dark canopies. Other people queue behind him, and a menu board reading “Tikka Express” is visible in the background.
Stallholder Abdullah said rats and rubbish are a problem in London in general, not just at the market

A Tower Hamlets Council spokesperson said several measures had been taken recently to reduce smoke and odours, including advising traders on cleaning methods and adjustments to equipment.

They said reports of fly-tipping had been investigated and that evidence suggested some waste originated from nearby "bricks-and-mortar businesses in the area".

Investigators and CCTV were being used to identify those responsible and take enforcement action where appropriate, the spokesperson added.

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