Residents are demanding the immediate and permanent closure of Petticoat Lane Food Court and other offending units, citing years of serious health, safety, hygiene, and planning violations that have made daily life intolerable and badly damaged the Wentworth Street Conservation Area. Tower Hamlets Council (LBTH) has knowingly and recklessly endangered lives, caused immense suffering, and failed to adequately respond.

• Human faeces, urine, ejaculate, and huge quantities of rodent droppings, in addition to needles and piles of waste.

• Drains permanently blocked by oil and waste.

• Mass rubbish dumping.

• Giant rats in food storage and preparation areas and in homes. Wires in vehicles gnawed through. Pest control warning: “The infestation is getting out of control.”

• Lack of running water, handwashing, and even basic hygiene facilities. Necessary infrastructure does not exist.

• Illegal food preparation in storage units and vacant shops. Food kept on the floor.

• Most outlets do not have food hygiene ratings. Some are allowed to operate with failing ratings of 0 and 1. Even those with ratings of 3 do not meet LBTH’s minimum requirement of 4, but no enforcement action is taken. Some display false ratings. This is a public health risk.

• Unbearable smoke and odours. Residents report respiratory issues, running eyes and nose, and overheating.

• Intolerable 24/7 noise. Traders start as early as 4 am, operate well beyond permitted hours, shout, and play loud music. #Flatquakes day and night when traders move equipment.

• Thousands of kilos of gas stored dangerously and illegally beneath homes. LBTH ignored the risks until residents escalated matters and involved London Fire Brigade in 2024.

• Emergency exits blocked by traders’ heavy equipment.

• Unsecured access to residential buildings — anyone can enter at any time. Drug dealing, rough sleeping, and persistent danger.

• Residents foot the huge cleaning bills, in effect, subsidising cheap lunches for customers, whilst struggling to cover the costs.