Traders pictured in 2017 following their successful battle to stop the market being privatised

TRADERS in Berwick Street were furious after the city council moved to switch off their main water supply without warning.

Stallholders in the famous market street were told taps in nearby Tyler’s Court and Broadwick Street would be turned off today (Friday).

Earlier this week they told Extra they had not been given a reason for the change and said the proposed alternative – a tap in Peter Street – is not a working option because it has no drainage system.

The council said it met stallholders on Wednesday to discuss the plans and had agreed not to switch off the Broadwick Street tap until changes were put in place.

Leanne Gellel, who runs Leanne’s Flowers on the corner of Berwick Street, said: “We have been using these taps for years, everyone in the market uses them. I need them for my buckets, but other stallholders use them to wash their food and produce.

“The other tap they want us to use in Peter Street doesn’t even have any drainage.”

Berwick Street Market is one of the oldest in the country, dating back 300 years.

In 2017 tensions between traders and the council were strained to breaking point during a successful battle to stop plans to sell it off to a private firm.

Traders had faced many months of uncertainty over their future and a petition to keep the market independent had been signed by more than 37,000 people.

Westminster councillor David Boothroyd, cabinet member for finance and corporate property, said: “We want to support the market but the on-street taps are not fit for purpose in their current state and location, with so many market traders selling food and needing the water to prepare.

“We met the market traders… to discuss the situation and we have agreed not to remove the tap at Broadwick Street until we have upgraded water facilities for traders to meet all necessary health and hygiene requirements.

“We must be careful in Broadwick Street, of all places.”

The council added that the tap at Tyler’s Court “has to be removed as it is on private land and the owner has essential work which can’t take place without the closure of this tap”, and added: “The council will install a tap and a bigger sink with appropriate drainage and flooring at the nearby storage unit we provide for the traders.

“It will be available for all market traders, whether or not they use the storage, and located near the entrance. Then we will make sure it’s regularly tested to ensure proper water hygiene.”