A FISHMONGER has blamed the rise in supermarkets and takeways for the demise of his long-standing independent business.

D H Wallace and Sons, in Station Road, had its final day of trading on Saturday, May 30, after selling fish to the people of Chingford for the last 46 years.

Speaking about the closure, John Carpenter, 69, one of the shop's directors, said: "The shop's customers have depleted. I blame the council's planners.

There are 36 different places that sell cooked food in Station Road.

They are giving licenses away like confetti these days."

Mr Carpenter added changes in shopping trends, which has seen people ditching independent businesses in favour of supermarkets, made trading very difficult.

He added that he finally took the decision to shut his shop after his business partner Ian Wallace, 55, had a stroke, meaning he is unable to work.

Three staff at the shop will be made redundant following the closure.

One has already secured a job on the fish counter at Morrison's supermarket in Salisbury Hall Gardens, Chingford.

Mr Carpenter is in talks with businessmen wanting to turn part of the premises into a takeaway but the wet fish counter in the shop will be left empty because he is unable to find a buyer.

D H Wallace and Sons opened in 1963 and at its height the company had two other shops in Old Church Road and Hatch Lane.

Mr Carpenter has seen tastes in change, with people now happy to purchase increasing numbers of exotic fish.

"When we opened people wouldn't touch a fish like monkfish. They would see it as not fit for eating but now its a delicacy. The same can be said for John Dory.

"When we started everything was freshly caught. Skate skinned and cutlets of fresh fish were popular. It had a lot of flavour. People want fish without bones these days," he said.

The most unusual type of fish on display at D H Wallace and Sons was the brightly coloured Parrot Fish.

"It's an exotic looking fish. It's very colourful and comes from the Caribbean," Mr Carpenter said.