A ROW has broken out over the organisation of a "disastrous" Olympic food market as those involved consider legal action to recoup their costs.
 

The council created the temporary 'Olympia Market' in Marshall Road, near the Leyton Asda car park, in the expectation that thousands of visitors travelling to the Games from Leyton Tube station would walk past.
 

But traders, who were sold the pitches at prices of up to £16,200 for 45 days, have abandoned their stalls and are facing financial ruin as hardly anyone has turned up.



The council contracted two firms - North London Business and Skateco UK Ltd - to manage the market and says the firms selected the location.


But in a statement to the Guardian, Brian Jokat, managing director of Skateco, disputed the claim and said his firm had been "badly let down" by the council.


He said: "When Waltham Forest Council first proposed the Marshall Road Market idea to us, we were excited...our decision to become involved in the project was based on the council's estimated footfall numbers.

“The council had told us and other local businesses that in excess of 30,000 people could realistically be expected on some Games days.

“We were told that there would be a regular flow of visitors to the Olympic Park from nearby Leyton Underground station and that people would be drawn to the market by local signage and council-produced leaflets.

“All of this would have generated significant passing trade for the market and its stalls but, sadly, none of it has been delivered in reality."

Mr Jokat, who is taking legal advice, added: “The market simply hasn't been given a chance to succeed.”

Council leaflets welcoming visitors to the borough included maps advising pedestrians to walk a different route through Leyton to the Olympic Park, bypassing the market altogether.


The authority has since withdrawn the leaflets, saying they are not needed because of lower than expected numbers of visitors across Waltham Forest generally.

Meanwhile traders are plotting legal action and have set up an online petition demanding refunds, claiming some have lost up to £27,000 and have had to re-mortgaged their homes.


It has been signed by nearly 400 people and can be viewed at http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/north-london-business-refund-leyton-olympia-food-market-traders


The Guardian is awaiting a comment from the council.


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