Space to be set aside for casual trading in Cork towns

More space than is required at present is to be set aside in towns in Co Cork for regulated casual trading than required at present because of the growing success of the likes of farmers’ markets.

Bylaws are being drawn up by the county council’s eight municipal districts which will regulate casual trading and provide maps to show where it will be allowed in towns and villages.

Once enacted, council officials will have the power to caution, issue on-the-spot fines, or take court prosecutions against casual traders who operate outside the designated areas.

Officials will have the power to check traders’ tax clearance certificates, public liability insurance cover, and the like.

Traders will be provided with an individual spot which they must keep to, as well as specific times for trading.

The West Cork municipal district is one of the first to outline its designated casual trading areas, which will go out to public consultation shortly.

These areas have been identified in The Warren, Rosscarbery; Owenahincha, Inchydoney, Clonakilty, Castletownbere, Dursey Sound car park, Eyeries, Glengarriff, Dunmanway, Schull, Mizen Head, Goleen, Barleycove, Tragumna, Rosscarbery, Skibbereen, Leap, Bantry, and Baltimore pier.

Councillor Christopher O’Sullivan (FF), chairman of the West Cork municipal district, said not everybody would be happy with the plans, but he was glad to see them go out for public consultation and that the draft “was not a fait accompli”.

He said he had spoken to (fixed) businesses and casual traders and they were happy as long as submissions were taken on board from both sides before final decisions are made.

Council officials said they were putting in additional areas, not commonly used at present, because they saw significant growth of farmers’ markets expected in the years ahead and wanted to act now.

They pointed out that even more areas could be added if somebody could prove markets were held there in years gone by because of a High Court ruling which stated that ‘ancient market rights had to be respected’ in Ennis.

Paul Hayes (SF) said that council officials should also expect casual trading to be drawn to festivals and other annual events and they would need to stay in touch with their organisers.

Joe Carroll (FF) said an annual food festival in Skibbereen had become so successful that it effectively closes off its main street for a couple of days.

He said he hoped its growth would continue, but it meant that visitors could not get parking spaces in the town centre when it was on and that needs to be addressed.

Mary Hegarty (FG) said some casual trading going on in Bantry on the side of the N71 causes safety concerns.