New byelaws for casual trading planned
People selling beverages and food from mobile units in some of the most scenic areas of the Nenagh Munical District will in future have to possess a permit under new casual trading byelaws being introduced in the locality.
Others selling arts and crafts and farmers/food markets will now also come under the new permit system, due to be introduced in the lakeside villages of Garrykennedy, Dromineer, Terryglass, the Riverside Park in Ballina, along with The Lookout at Portroe, Newport and the nearby Clare Glens.
Outlining the plans to councillors at the January meeting of the Nenagh Municipal District, the district's Administrator, Rosemary Joyce, said the local authority had drawn up draft byelaws governing trading in goods in public places in the locations outlined.
The proposals, which would now be put out for public consultation, included plans for an annual €300 fee for a casual trading licence for a single sales stand and €600 for two sales stands.
Ms Joyce said the district authority was in new territory in progressing with its plan. But it would monitor how things developed and see what the take-up is likely to be to the new licensing scheme.
In formulating its plans, the council anticipated there might be take-up from people who wanted to sell crafts and locally grown food. Among the provisions is a stipulation that ice-cream vans can trade in any one location for a maximum duration of 20 minutes before having to move on.
Ms Joyce said provision was also being made under the proposed byelaws for the staging of events such as farmers’ and Christmas markets.
Under the plans, one nominated individual representing all of the stallholders in a market could make an application to license the entire market.
Proof of insurance cover would have to be furnished as part of any application.
Councillors gave the go-ahead to the district authority to put the proposals out on public display for one month.
Submissions on the plans would be invited from members of the public before the draft byelaws come back before the authority for adoption by the elected members.
Cllr Joe Hannigan said that was being proposed was an important piece of legislation. He welcomed the fact that all potential traders and stallholders were being given an opportunity to have an input into the process. Ms Joyce said it was hoped to bring the bylaws back before the elected members for their April meeting for proposed adoption. However, the process may be moved on even further if the public submission process resulted in material changes having to be made to the proposals now on the table.