Cockroach-infested market shut for second weekend

Sheffield's Moor Market will remain closed until next week as the council continues to treat a cockroach infestation.

It will remain shut throughout the weekend while "treatment, cleaning and monitoring work" continues across the building, Sheffield City Council said.

Pest activity had "reduced significantly" since the market closed on 26 June, following deep cleaning by council teams, specialist contractors and traders.

The council said the recent period of "extreme and sustained hot weather" had created conditions that can increase pest activity.

Councillor Mark Rusling, chair of the environmental service committee, said the council was taking a "cautious approach".

He said: "We are keeping the market closed for longer to ensure we are absolutely confident there is no remaining activity and no risk to public health.

"We will not reopen the market until monitoring shows there have been multiple consecutive days with no pest activity detected.

"We also want to minimise the risk of any reintroduction of pests, which can occur if treatment and monitoring programmes are not allowed sufficient time to take full effect."

Rusling thanked traders for their patience, cooperation and the "considerable effort" they have put into cleaning their units, storage areas and equipment.

"Their hard work and support have been vital in helping us make the progress we have seen so far," he said.

"Protecting public health remains our priority. We are working towards reopening the market as soon as it is safe to do so and will provide a further update next week."

Pest control measures have included repeated spray treatments, longer-term gel treatments, replacement of monitoring equipment and intensive cleaning across trading, storage and communal areas.

The whole market had to close so the entire building could be accessed.

Moor Market is Sheffield's biggest, housing more than 90 independent traders.

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