Camden New Journal - News: ‘All of it is completely gone. It’s like someone dropped a bomb’

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Camden New Journal - by RICHARD OLSEY
Published: 14 February 2008

Rezuar Rahaman stands on the rubble where his stall once did – he lost £80,000 worth of stock in the fire

‘All of it is completely gone. It’s like someone dropped a bomb’

MARKET stallholders who lost their businesses in the fire have told of their fears for the future as they wait for help.
Around 90 stalls in the Canal Market, largely constructed of plywood, were damaged and many traders have confirmed they had been unable to get insurance for their stock.
Mayor of London Ken Livingstone has pledged to start a rescue fund and landlords Camden Market Holdings said yesterday that it would add £2 for every £1in the emergency pot.
Rezuar Rahaman lost £80,000 worth of stock, including £30,000 worth of shop fittings.
He said: “I lost all my stock. All of it completely gone. It looks like someone has dropped a nuclear bomb.”
Traders convened yesterday (Wednesday) in Castlehaven Road, awaiting a meeting inside the burnt out shell of the former thriving retail market.
Sunny Gulati has traded in leather goods for the past 20 years.
He said: “This is our livelihood. We are totally dependent on this. We have nothing to live on. We want to demand immediate relief for survival.”
Piers Codling,from Camden Market Holdings, said: “We will meet with every trader over the next few weeks to work through their circumstances and work out what part of the fund we can give them.”
This morning (Thursday) an advice centre for traders will be up and running on Inverness Street, he added.
The landlords are also looking into whether some of the traders can have pitches in the nearby Stables market with reduced rents.
A spokesman said: “The Market owners will work with the traders to help re-establish their businesses, offering assistance with substantial rent-free periods and designing and rebuilding their units at no cost.”
Labour ward councillor Pat Callaghan said: “We need to ensure the landlords carry through on their promises to the traders.”
Camden shop owner Bernard Perjuci is also anxious about the coming months. He said: “I think many people are going to ignore Camden now – they think the market is destroyed.”
Simon Pitkeathley, from Camden Town Unlimited, a business group, added: “It is important that people know that Camden is still up and running and open for business.
“One part of the markets in Camden has been affected but the rest is still open and if people want to help, one of the best ways is to come down and support Camden traders.”

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