The Wilberforce Community Market located at the Lumley Road and Freetown Road intersection owned by the Judea West African Methodist Church is on the brink of collapse if not repaired.
According to Awoko investigations the market was constructed by the Church for its members who were predominantly traders in 1804 and since then the market has been utilized by both Church members and the community.
However, after 205 years of utilization no major repairs has been done on the market by either the church nor the users. As a result, the market is now posing a death trap because pillars supporting the roof now show dangerous cracks and the steps leading to the entrance of the market has already collapsed.
On a spot visit to the market this week, vegetable and fish sellers were seen cramped on wrecked market tables with their goods, in an untidy environment with the only water tank at the market very dry.
The market cannot also accommodate all the traders, therefore cramped stalls are chaotically erected in all the corners surrounding the market.
Some of the petty traders interviewed at the market acknowledged that the market is in a terrible state and facilities like toilets, water well and stores are non-existent leading sometimes to serious embarrassment as traders have to run home to answer to the call of nature. Moreover they have to carry their wares home after the day’s activities because there is no storage facility available.
“We are paying to register out tables and also pay market dues on a daily basis to the Freetown City Council they only collect the money but nothing visible has been done to improve on the facilities at the market,” they queried.
The marketers also allege that the West Africa Methodist Church has also asked all of them to vacate the place, so that they can take over the market but sadly enough both the sellers and the City Council are yet to respond.
A resident of Wilberforce Rio Thorpe who is also a church member gave a brief historical background of the market. He said it is unfortunate that the Council has refused to relocate the market.
He also explained that, despite the deplorable state of the community center it has also been used to conduct classes and is still a venue for social programs within the community.
Local residents in the area expressed dismay over the deplorable state of both the community center and the market and the seeming lack of concern on the side of Council to rehabilitate the structures.
By Saidu Bah