Casual Trading Bye Laws On Hold Pending Outcome Of Court Appeal

The range of measures aimed at regulating casual trading activity were approved by Clare County Council last month and were due to come into effect from 11 July 2008.

According to Mr. Ger Dollard, Director of Services, Clare County Council, "Pending the outcome of the Appeal, the Casual Trading Bye Laws cannot be brought into effect at any of the designated locations. It is expected that the Appeal will be listed at the District Court Hearing to be held in Ennis on Friday next, 4 July 2008, when a date for a full hearing of the Appeal will be agreed."

Mr. Dollard confirmed that the previous arrangements that were in place in relation to casual trading would continue in place until such time as the Appeal had been dealt with.

Clare County Council's Casual Trading Bye Laws 2008 include the formal designation of casual trading areas in Ennistymon, Doolin Pier, Kildysart, Kilfenora, Killaloe, Kilkee, Miltown Malbay, Shannon and Tulla. The effect of designation is that any trading outside of the designated areas, on public property, is prohibited. The areas designated for each location are set out on individual maps attached to the Bye Laws.

Separate Event Trading licences will be required by traders wishing to trade at festivals, fairs and significant events in towns and villages throughout Clare. Events include the Willie Clancy Festival in Miltown Malbay each July, the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival each September, the Rose of Clare Festival at Cooraclare and the Feakle festival. The new provisions for event licences come into effect on 1st October 2008.

The revised Bye Laws stipulate that the Local Authority, in conjunction with local Gardaí and local representatives will agree on the number of licences and category of goods that will cater for the needs of such events and pitches/bays will be allocated to successful applicants.

Meanwhile, the draft Bye Laws also feature additional management measures, including regulating the heights of stalls, hours of operation and updating of fee structures.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editor:
Ger Dollard, Director of Services, Clare County Council, may be contacted at 087-2240601
For further information please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 086-8534900 or media@dunphypr.com

Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
www.dunphypr.com
media@dunphypr.com
00353-868534900