WITH the first shop due to open at the Markets today, there were still complaints of fishy smells in the area yesterday. But developer McAulay confirmed yesterday that it was dealing with the situation and deputy environmental health officer Tony Rowe confirmed it was not considered a risk to the public.

He added that officers had checked the transfer of the stalls to the French Halles area and were continuing to monitor the situation.

Chief librarian Maggie Falla at the neighbouring Guille-Alles said the problem, reported in yesterday’s Guernsey Press, had been raised with the developer.

As she jokingly sprayed air freshener in one area of the library, Ms Falla said it was a serious concern and hoped it would be sorted out soon.

‘We have spoken to the developers and they are taking steps to solve the problem – they are taking it very seriously,’ she said.

‘We’re pushing for a resolution – we hope it’s going to be solved in the next few days.’

Ms Falla said if the problem continued, it could start to affect the number of people coming to the library. She added that she held concerns for staff working in such conditions.

‘We’ve often said in the library that any publicity is good publicity, but this has possibly gone a bit too far.

‘The smell changes from day to day.

‘The other evening was definitely smoked haddock and this morning was worse,’ she said yesterday.

Outside the library, pedestrians continued to complain.

‘It smells – it’s really rank,’ said 16-year-old Claire Harvey.

A spokesman for McAulay said he did not foresee similar problems when the traders moved to the main building as the structure itself was not changing.

‘The purpose for moving them was to upgrade the area and make it more hygienic,’ he said.

* New Look is the first shop in the Markets, with the company aiming to recruit 44 staff for its 12,500sq. ft, two-floor store.

Other confirmed retailers in the units include HMV and Mckays which are due to move in in the next few months.