Chapel Market stallholders are embroiled in a row with tenants over noise in the historic street.
Traders claim some tenants are confronting them over morning noise, and that they are even using CCTV to monitor them.
They are also concerned their 5.45am set-up time will move to 7am, though council bosses this week promised this won’t happen.
One tenant, who had been pointed out by traders, denied all knowledge of the row on Friday, saying: “I don’t want to get involved with something in which we are not involved.”
But David Twydell, chairman of the Chapel Market Traders Association, said: “They want to move into the area, they want that buzz of Chapel Market, but don’t like what comes with it.
“It’s a market, for Christ’s sake! It gets dirty, and sometimes it can be noisy. One of the traders was shouting ‘two for £1’ on Sunday. A man came out and asked him to be quiet because it was annoying him. It’s as if they want us to tip-toe around in fluffy slippers, but it doesn’t work like that.”
Mr Twydell, who has run a fruit stall in the market for 40 years, said the early setup time is “essential”, and added: “We don’t want to lose our identity. There’s not many of us left. The market is declining. Every one of us is struggling.”
Dave Jackson, 64, who was born in Northwest Place and runs his fruit stall just yards away in Chapel Market, said: “I was born here. I have traded here 50 years. There’s so many drastic changes and it’s extra stress on us.
“You see CCTV cameras have been installed, and it makes us feel like little kids. At one time there was not a lot of tenants here, but the way it’s going, we are going to lose our identity. And once that happens, we are finished.”
Cllr Asima Shaikh, Islington’s economic development leader, assured traders: “Chapel Market is an important asset to our borough, and a much-loved part of Islington life.
“Although the general setting-up time is from 7am, we allow certain traders to set up at around 6am, as long as they are as quiet as possible, and we have no plans to change this arrangement.
“Council officers have had no recent complaints about noise from traders setting up. We have had occasional complaints in the past and have worked with local residents and traders to help address any issues.”
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