Time running out to give views on new street trading policy

People from across West Suffolk have two week’s left to help shape a new street trading policy for the district.

Street Trading covers outdoor retail and catering activities undertaken in public streets such as flower sellers, ice-cream vendors, fancy goods, souvenir stalls and hot and cold catering such as burger vans.

It does not cover council’s weekly street markets which come under separate regulation, but it does include other town centre stallholder events.

West Suffolk Council is due to review its street trading licensing policy later this year.

It launched a survey on February 5 and wrote to it street traders, town centre event organisers including Our Bury St Edmunds and Love Newmarket business improvement districts, town and parish councils and more, inviting their insight and input.

The responses to this survey will then feed into the shaping of a new street trading policy for West Suffolk.

The deadline for responses is March 18 and street traders, residents, businesses and event organisers are encourages to give their views in the short survey at https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/XU8E04/

Gerald Kelly, cabinet member for Governance and Regulatory at West Suffolk Council, said: “We are looking at how we best support local businesses and the sustainable growth of our economy while best serving the interests of our residents and visitors. The feedback from this survey will help us as we discuss what the level of regulation should be and how we get the balance right. That’s why I would urge people of all ages and backgrounds to seize this opportunity and help us shape our policy through this survey.”