Worthing Borough Council

• Street Markets
• Pedlars

Street Trading

Page Rating

1 2 3 4 5

01903 221068

licensing.unit@adur-worthing.gov.uk

Street Trading

Street trading means the selling, or exposing, or offering for sale, of any article (including a living thing) in a street. A street for the purposes of this definition, includes any road, highway, footway, beach or other area to which the public have free access without payment.

Worthing Borough Council has a strict policy governing street trading. Complaints regarding the conduct of some street traders in the past has led the council to adopt controls under the provisions of Schedule 4 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1982.

Whilst no restrictions are in force for the majority of the borough large areas of the town centre, the coast road, the area south of the central railway station and areas in Broadwater and Durrington are designated 'Prohibited' for the purposes of street trading and such activity is illegal. In these areas no consents can be granted.

Under the same powers other areas of the borough are designated 'Consent' streets and in these areas applications for street trading consents can be considered. Montague Street, Montague Place and South Street Square (South Street northern end) are the only designated “consent” streets under the provisions of the act in the town centre. Whilst Marine Crescent and Marine Drive are also designated consent streets to allow Ice Cream Vans to operate with a permit.

Applications for a 'Street Trading Permit' will be considered on individual merit but traders are only likely to be given consent in exceptional cases where the proposed activity will add colour and interest to the local environment.

Consents will NOT be granted where:-

1. the proposed trading would compete directly with shops and businesses in the vicinity;
2. the proposed trading would have an undesirable effect on the character of the area, create excessive obstruction, lead to an increase in litter or over-use of the area.

Applicants should also note that trailers, stalls, mobile vans or the like will not normally be permitted in Montague Street, Montague Place and South Street Square.

Please find application forms and guidance for street trading permits in the Licensing Forms section and details of street trading fees in the Licence and Registration Fees section.

Please note that trading in a 'Prohibited' area, or trading in a 'Consent' area without a permit, is an offence punishable with a fine, on conviction, of up to £1,000 for each seperate offence.

Back to Navigation - Back to the top of this article