Fire chiefs pour cold water on Nag’s Head market plan
Inspectors find ‘areas of high fire risk’ and ‘risk of serious injury’
Monday, 15th July 2019 — By Emily Finch
THE OWNERS of Nag’s Head market who are hoping to launch a new food market on the first floor of their building, were dealt a blow after being hit by a prohibition order from the London Fire Brigade.
As previously reported in the Tribune, a licensing committee made up of three councillors at Islington Council rejected an application for an alcohol licence at the venue in Seven Sisters Road following fierce opposition from residents in February.
The owners of the market place were still awarded Temporary Events Notices by the council, allowing them to serve food and alcohol in the space over five weekends. The first event was scheduled for last month.
But London Fire Brigade inspected the new market space at the request of Islington Council, resulting in a “prohibition order” limiting the use of the upstairs space to just 60 people. The order, which was displayed on the entrance to the stairway of the upstairs market, said “quick and safe evacuation is compromised because occupants have to pass through areas of high fire risk”, and that “fire separation between floors is insufficient”.
It also labelled as “inadequate” the “means of escape” and the “fire protection for the means of escape”.
The order, which warns that “the risk of serious personal injury to relevant persons is imminent”, was dated July 4 and signed off by the deputy assistant commissioner, Rhys Powell.
The Tribune has also seen a fire risk assessment by private firm Firecare999, commissioned by market director Satpal Sathi, which found “no significant fire safety deficiencies identified” and made no recommendations for further action.
Councillor Gary Heather, who has contin- uously opposed plans for the market’s alcohol licence for fear that it will increase anti-social behaviour in the area, said: “They are not being a good neighbour. People are angry and were offended by the tempo- rary events notices when the alcohol licence was rejected.
“We are leaving no stone unturned and will form a robust challenge [to the new market].”
The market’s owners did not respond to a request for comment after two phone calls and an email.
