Angry North End Road market traders have quashed a 'blue sky' Hammersmith and Fulham council idea of moving the 150-year-old market from its home.

Chair of the North End Road Market Street Traders' Association Peter Johnson, who has run a fruit and vegetable stall there for more than 50 years, was asked his opinion on moving the market to Vanston Place, Fulham, by a representative from Hammersmith and Fulham Council.

His nephew, Ron Lawrence MBE, who works on the same stall as Mr Johnson, said Fulham Broadway Ward's Cllr Aidan Burley approached his uncle to make the suggestion.

"If they are going to try to move the market there's going to be a massive row," said Mr Lawrence, who lives in Haldane Road,West Kensington. "It would kill the market and every trader would fight it all the way. It makes me feel uneasy. I think there's an agenda there."

However, Cllr Burley claims it was a council officer, not him, who had the idea and spoke to Mr Johnson during a moment of 'blue sky thinking'.

He said that all H&F council-lors have been given a special responsibility and his is North End Road Market.

"We did a walk around and spoke to some of the traders about what they would like for the market," he said on Tuesday. "One of the suggestions made by one of the officers was - blue sky thinking - why not move it to Vanston Place?

"It was just to test the water. But I don't think there's an appetite for it."

He added there are no proposals to move the market to Vanston Place or anywhere else.

Cllr Burley said he is planning to address other problems faced by North End Road pedestrians, like stalls taking up too much room on the pavement for parents with buggies to get through.

"We want to make the market better - there's a litter problem," he said, adding that he has had complaints from people trying to squeeze past stalls.

Meanwhile, the council's cabinet agreed on Monday night to begin traffic improvements to North End Road - which has seen 159 accidents in just three years.

Mr Lawrence added that he welcomes proposals to make the market safer and supports the suggested creation of a 20mph speed limit.

A new bus stop outside Rackton Road is also on the cards, along with more cycle stands.

Changes of the layout of the market bays and refuse facilities have also been suggested, as well as changes to waiting and loading facilities to reduce traffic delays.

A consultation will take place this month.