| Topic: | Re:Re:Reply | |
| Posted by: | Paul Corcoran | |
| Date/Time: | 08/09/20 09:11:00 |
| Talk of prosecuting the organisers is crossing the line into ridiculous territory. They had all the necessary permits, they were literally holding the event outside a police station, police officers and council enforcement officers were on hand and got full cooperation, the Mayor and a local MP attended and the leader of the council sent them a congratulatory message. The chances of a criminal prosecution are therefore zero. It is also difficult to see how a civil prosecution could be pursued. I was on the High Road and steered clear, mainly because I didn't see the point of queueing when I could walk straight into Wheelers any other day of the week. Close to 20,000 people got an email half an hour before the event started which gave due notice that it might be busy so nobody was taken by surprise. It is unfortunate however that the event took place just as data was emerging of a cluster of infections in Chiswick. Based on the infection rate for the previous week it was statistically likely that 3 or 4 people who went to the flower market had Covid-19. If there is an acceleration of infections over the next two weeks - which would put Chiswick into lockdown risk territory - the market will inevitably be blamed despite the fact there doesn't seem to be any recent evidence that large attendance open air events are a significant source of spread of the virus. Hopefully, there will be no increase and we can all focus on the huge positives that have come out of the flower market. It has provided a massive boost for the High Road and Chiswick in general much needed at a time when retailers are prevailed upon from all sides and cursed with a council that seems to see them as a problem rather than an asset. This has all been done by people who have not been paid, have a genuine desire to help the community and a passion for the Chiswick area. They should be applauded to the rafters rather than being fitted for orange jump suits. |