Border Telegraph | News | No square go for traders

Wednesday, 20th August, 2008

Published: Thursday, 26th July, 2007 10:50

No square go for traders

By Border Telegraph Newsroom

STREET traders can not expect open access to new public areas in Melrose town centre.

Scottish Borders Council has confirmed that current licensing regulations will control use of the paved platforms in Market Square.

The local authority was responding to Melrose and District Community Council concern that public open space could be exploited for commercial gain.

The pedestrian area was completed recently as part of improvements to accommodate the one-way road system in the town centre.

Community councillors fear that the new facility may attract stallholders from outside the town or encourage local shopkeepers to extend their trading area.

Worried locals have been reassured by a recent SBC letter, which outlines the street trading conditions for the region.

It reads: “Shops and commercial premises can, of course, carry on their business within the curtilage of their ownership and it is acknowledged by the roads authority that, on occasion, some traders do have displays, notices and goods exposed for sale on the public roads and footpaths.

“There is a degree of toleration about such matters exercised by (council) officers as to when the public safety is at risk and owners of businesses will be asked to address the issue by taking in their notices etc.

“If a business sets up remotely from their shop or café (where there is a gap between the edge of their premises and the site of this activity) then this cannot be seen in the same light.

“There is no right to trade from the highway without the consent of the roads authority and, indeed, a street trader’s licence in most instances.”

Outside traders are also restricted from making their pitch on the platforms.

A condition of licences curtails the sale, from a stall or kiosk, goods

which can be bought from a shop or business premises within a 100-metre radius.

There is no restriction on the consumption of foodstuffs in public, so goods bought from a takeaway outlet can be consumed on any seats in the square.

But a local shop or café arranging a delivery service to the square is unlikely to be tolerated.

Community councillors are keeping a watching brief on activity in the square.

Provost William Windram hopes that licensing and roads officials will liaise with the Community Council to ensure that access to the platforms is controlled.

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