Play "Dodge The Droppings" at Greenwich Market!

For a long time now, one of Greenwich Market's greatest attractions for visitors and traders alike have been daily games of "Dodge The Droppings".

The market's population of flying rats have always been a wonderful source of entertainment, but that joy is reaching new heights now that the management no longer take any action to reduce their numbers.

The posts that visitors pass on entering the market bear witness to the pigeons' active bowels and the management's neglect.

...and here's a close-up of the top:-

Here are a few facts about feral pigeons:-

• Feral pigeons carry significantly more diseases that are harmful to humans than the brown rat. Over forty diseases can be passed from feral pigeons to humans.
• The best-known infectious disease passed from birds to humans is psittacosis, which has symptoms similar to pneumonia and typhoid fever and is caused by the bacterium Chlamydophila psittaci.
• Feral pigeons have been shown to transmit cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis and bird flu.
• Other examples of potentially infectious diseases transmitted by pigeons are salmonella and tuberculosis.
• Feral pigeons are a source of allergens, which can cause respiratory illnesses like pigeon fancier's lung and allergic skin reactions. It is possible for these illnesses to be spread to people through contact with pigeon droppings, feathers, pigeon parasites, or where dead infected pigeons get into food or water sources.
• Spores from pigeon droppings can be carried on the wind and inhaled as dust, causing a flu-like illness in healthy people and posing serious problems to those with low immunity.
• Droppings not only cause buildings to look unsightly, but can also cause long-term damage.
• The presence of pigeon droppings, particularly when wet, can contribute to pedestrian accidents on pavements. Many stone and cobbled surfaces are particularly badly affected when wet.

Property owners have a duty to act if the roosting of birds is causing a nuisance or health hazard from their droppings. Greenwich council can serve an abatement notice under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 ordering the removal of the mess. Why they haven't done so yet is a bit of a mystery.

I'm sure the council won't turn a blind eye to this forever, so perhaps GSM should ask their lessor to take action as soon as possible.

All change

Just when you thought things were gathering pace on the relocation, one of the major players delivers a slap in the face. I'm referring, of course, to Greenwich Council's announcement that they probably won't allow the market to move temporarily to Cutty Sark Gardens (CSG).

Right from the start, CSG has been the preferred relocation site. It's big enough, not far from the original site, on the tourist route and adjacent to the existing retail area. A bit exposed, yes, but with a professionally designed structure in place of GSM's tent it should be viable.

This decision is a complete surprise and a significant kick in the teeth for everyone from Greenwich Hospital down. So what's going on? The council have been involved in the redevelopment decision-making process from the start, so why throw a spanner in the works now?

I reckon some bean-counter in the council has just figured out that they can make more money from other uses, so to hell with the market. Many of their decisions over the years have undermined the market's viability (relocating coach parking to the top of Greenwich park was a real killer), so they're clearly not fans.

In recent years their contempt for the market has become obvious - there now seems to be a market on at CSG every weekend. Presumably there's more money in those rents than the Hospital has offered so far.

Viva Italia!

I do apologise for giving you nothing to fume about over the weekend, but I was obliged to devote a little attention to matters domestic. I did take time out to wander Greenwich and pass through the market. Were my perceptions off kilter or was it even quieter than usual? Sunday seemed worse than Saturday, though there is a partial explanation for that - the Italian market.

One can hardly blame the Italian market traders (or the Indian ones the week before, or the French ones ad nauseam) for wanting to profit from the effort the people, traders, business owners and institutions of Greenwich put into making this place such a great destination for visitors. But surely it's hard enough for the locals at this time without Greenwich council sticking the boot in.

Why does Greenwich council persist in promoting these "continental" markets at the expense of its indigenous ones. Yesterday's Italian food market was featured in the centre of the council's web site home page (go to http://www.greenwich.gov.uk/Greenwich/), with its own page promoting the traders and products. Even more invidious is that website's Markets page (at http://www.greenwich.gov.uk/Greenwich/LeisureCulture/Markets/) - Greenwich Market is third on the list, the Village Market is fourth and the Clock Tower Market doesn't even rate a mention. The Continental Markets are first on the list! Thanks for your support, Greenwich Council.