The aftermath of the Camden Market fire
 

I visited Camden Market on Saturday 16th Feb just to check on things before the next Bg in Camden on Tuesday 19th Feb.

In the latter part of the week Camden Council had been running radio adverts and Visit London had advertised in London's regional press telling people to head to Camden Town to support local traders.

For most it's business as usual and on the gloriously sunny day that it was the market area of Camden was packed.

I dropped in on market trader Freddy, The Village Games Shop and The Lockside Lounge - all are fine and manager of The Lockside Lounge was too busy with clients to really stop and chat - cool.

Ninety stalls were damaged in Saturday night's fire, 35 of them extensively. In addition six shops and the Hawley Arms have been ruined, some demolished.

The cause of the fire has still not been determined though one rumour is that it might have been a carelessly discarded cigarette butt. Another rumour includes the word insurance. However the official report has not yet been published.

London Mayor Ken Livingstone, the London Development Agency and Camden Council have announced they are working on a rescue plan for small businesses. A fund to help the stallholders has been set up. Camden Market Holdings promised £2 for every £1 committed by the mayor's recovery fund.

As you do in Camden Town I also met a photographer - Jeff Galasso who has taken some extraordinary shots of the aftermath caused. Here are a couple more of them:

 

A fireman extinguishes a back of the house toilet.

Because of the fire the 24 bus was re-routed.
Transport for London advertise a Singles Fares Freeze.
Driver Vacancy line: 0800-38-99-7-99
 

Backgammon in Camden will happen as planned on Tuesday 19th February 2008

Published Sat 16th February 2008 by Mike Main