Markets

To ensure our markets can continue to thrive, we licence markets and other events where goods, foods or drinks are sold whether commercially or for charitable purposes. These powers result from the granting of Market Charters, some of which date from medieval times which protected the rights of local traders from rival markets within six and two third miles from their own stalls.

Today these powers extend to our existing markets and are statutory rights to authorise, control and even prevent external events via the granting of chargeable market licences for both regular and one-off markets, or any similar events where there are multiple sellers and buyers coming together.

We also have a duty to ensure markets are safe and comply with legislation covering Trading Standards, Environmental Health and Consumer Rights and to avoid duplication or too many markets taking place in one locality.