Bring back our crossing—let shoppers meander, say market folk

STALLHOLDERS are furious over a zebra crossing being removed because they say it has diverted shoppers away from one of London’s busy street markets. So the traders have lodged a petition over the vanishing crossing in the Whitechapel Road

By Gemma Collins

STALLHOLDERS are furious over a zebra crossing being removed because they say it has diverted shoppers away from one of London’s busy street markets.

So the traders have lodged a petition with Tower Hamlets council in East London over the vanishing crossing in the Whitechapel Road.

It was replaced by a much wider crossing further along, outside Whitechapel Underground station directly opposite the main entrance to the Royal London Hospital.

MEANDER

Before, people coming out of the station heading for the hospital on the other side of the busy A11 main road would have to meander their way through the stalls to get to the old crossing and would often stop to shop.

Now they head straight across without so much as a second glance at the stalls.

“People just ignore all our businesses,” one trader told the council.

Stallholders and shopkeepers have called for the old crossing to be put back.

But the council points out the new, wider crossing is safer for pedestrians.