JEDDAH, 12 March 2004 — The Jeddah municipality is relocating the local animal market to the south of the city, announced Deputy Mayor Dr. Waleed Abdulaal.
He said that the purpose of the move is to solve animal odors problems in the surrounding neighborhoods of the current market.
The new animal market contains a slaughterhouse, mosque, six restaurants, 100 stables for camels and cows, 49 bird shops and sheep pens. The new complex will also house veterinary clinics.
Ali Sadeq, a shepherd, said, “Moving to a new location is not a bad idea. We know that the neighborhood residents are concerned by the smell of this place. Because of the odor, the land value surrounding us is not high. We hope the new place will be ideal as claimed by the civic authorities. We want it clean, not like this filthy place.”
Meanwhile, some workers at the animal market are refusing to make the move.
Saleh Al-Ghamdi, a stockman, said, “I do not know why the municipality want us to move there. We all know that it is no good for our animals because it is close to factories. We are paying rent here and everyone is happy, even the landowner did not object to us staying.”
Other workers have complained of the long drive to the new market.
The removal of the market comes as a relief for Osama Ahmad, who lives in Al-Rehab district, just west of the animal market.
“I have been hoping for this news since I moved to this neighborhood 10 years ago. The decision has arrived late but I am glad that it has come at last,” Ahmad said. “You cannot imagine the terrible smell that we have to live with here.”
