Camden Canal Market Fire - A conspiracy?

Following the tragic news of the Camden Market fire the internet has been ablaze with speculation that the fire is part of a sinister plot. It seems that the idea of a plot is highly unlikely after all corporate plotters usually don't need fires to clear away opposition they sorted out the Stables Marke and Leeds Corn Exchange easily enough. Plus of course it is the area by the station currently under threat of redevelopment rather than the canal market. I suppose we shall see what actually happens when the area reopens, but given the fact many stall holders might have serious problems considering their losses it would not be surprising if there was a big alteration in the stalls.

Given the huge number of redevelopments of alternative fashion areas over the last few months it is hardly surprising conspiracy is in the air. [See our posts on Corporate Redevelopment Hell ]

The Times said February 10th:

Hundreds of traders at Camden market, North London, whose businesses were destroyed by a weekend fire do not have insurance against damage, The Times has learnt. More than 100 stalls were gutted by the fire, which broke out at 7pm on Saturday and raged for three hours. No-one was reported injured.

The devastation wreaked upon parts of the market and the Hawley Arms, the pub favoured by celebrities such as Amy Winehouse, could pave the way for major developers to move into the area. "We don't want the big companies coming in and taking over," Pat Callaghan, a Labour councillor for Camden Town, told The Times. "It's a quirky, rough-and-ready area."

Musicians such as Kate Nash, and Alex James and Graham Coxon, of Blur, are among the high-profile names who have spoken out against a scheme to transform Stables Market, a separate part of the area.

Smoke hung heavy over the Canal section of the market yesterday afternoon. Police said it was too early to determine how the fire started.'

Camden Fire: 'We Know Who Lit The Blaze' - Yahoo! News UK

People in Camden are convinced they know who was behind a huge fire that engulfed much of the market area - but are too scared to tell police.

Several traders and residents believe the blaze which tore through Camden Market in north London is suspicious, but are worried about revenge attacks if they go public.

Sky News cannot reveal the name on locals' lips for legal reasons.

Fire officers and police have refused to be drawn on whether the fire may have been started deliberately.

The Standard provided some good fuel for conspiracy and reports the cost of the blaze was over 30 million:

Some traders criticised the fire brigade over its response. Ruth Mottram, one of the owners of the Hawley Arms, questioned the time which firefighters took to bring the blaze under control.

She said: "When our staff called the fire brigade the fire was a long way away from us. The pub was evacuated at 7.10pm and there was no immediate fire risk. We did not think for one minute that it would make its way to where we were.

"Obviously there are lots of questions, like why did it take so long to get the necessary firefighters there? I am sure lots of things will come out in the next few days. I just hope that it is looked at properly and not just swept under the carpet."

Anyway check out a sample of internet musings.

What's the betting that the Camden fire? - Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers

Comment is free: Are you gutted?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/02/10/nfire210.xml

"Conspiracy theories and other conversations were under way on Yahoo Answers, Neogaff, Suzy's photos and elsewhere. "