We suspect that there is a ‘managed decline’ of Queen’s Market, due to developer-led pressure to build on the site. Between the planning department, policy makers and politicians, Queen’s Market has been neglected and some obvious issues have never been solved.
One such issue is the nuisance of pigeons who naturally see the market as a covered spot to get away from the elements. In our conversations with Newham Council officers, their private consultants and a market employee we notice that they all give different views on whose responsibility it is to remove pigeons, with one person placing the blame on traders (cheeky!) and saying that the Good Growth Fund will sort the pigeon issue out.
So does the responsibility for the pigeons lie with planning enforcement, environment & public health, pest control, market maintenance or should the cost come from the Good Growth Fund?
Scrolling photo gallery showing where pigeons might get into the roof netting:
To promote and preserve a thriving publicly-owned historic street market 