Stalled by the cold
Reporter: BEATRIZ AYALA
Date published: 08 January 2009
Traders feeling bitter
broken heaters are forcing Tommyfield indoor market traders to work in the bitter cold.
As temperatures plummet across the borough, workers recorded noon readings of only 7.8C (46F) inside the market hall.
Justin Brierley (38) runs footwear stall A&Y Brierley. He said: “Lots of traders have complained about the lack of heating inside the market.
“They are all wearing coats and scarves, which they shouldn’t have to.
“The thermometer read just 7.8C shortly before noon and it doesn’t really get much warmer as the day goes on.
“We shouldn’t have to work like this, but we can’t afford to miss a day’s work.”
Mr Brierley, who has worked on his stall for 23 years, said the heating system had been faulty for about two years.
He said: “We were told the heating was being fixed in 2007-08 but that never materialised. It’s so bitter at the moment.”
Market manager Peter Conroy said two of eight market heaters were not working.
And the current cold weather meant they were battling to keep the temperature in the market between 17 and 18C.
He said: “We are aware that some traders in Tommyfield market are unhappy with the temperatures during the current cold spell.
“However, all of the market’s heaters, with the exception of two, are working normally. Because we have been open everyday through the Christmas period, we have not had the opportunity to resolve this issue earlier.
“We are working as quickly as possible to get both heaters up and running again so that traders and shoppers can feel a lot more comfortable.”
