New laws after concerns over Brierfield street traders influx

The whole of Pendle is to come in line with Brierfield and Nelson after a policy designating the borough as consent trading streets was approved.

It will mean laws are tightened up and traders will need council authorisation before being allowed to sell goods on any street, road or footways.

The move follows concerns from Brierfield shopkeepers and councillors who say illegal traders are descending on the town from outside the area and taking business off local shops.

Council authorisation will be granted subject to conditions that the trader will not trade within 100m of a shop or other static trader selling the same or similar goods.

Backing the move, Coun. Naeem Ashraf said: “Traders are fed up. We still have serious issues in Brierfield with traders coming from as far as Bradford selling fruit and veg. We are not going to have any shops left.” With the application, CRB checks will also be required of operatives and their employees, like those needed by taxi drivers.

Coun. Mike Blomeley said: “The request for CRB checks comes from members of the Licensing Committee. We are trying to protect local traders in this, not create bureaucracy. This is not something which is new and it is in place in other authorities. The proposals are reasonable and have been subject to enormous scrutiny at area and licensing committees.”

Coun. Joe Cooney added: “It is no bad thing to make sure people who come trading on our streets are not criminals”.