This article is from page 56 of the 2007-03-27 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 56 JPG
NEW bylaws are to be introduced in the next few months to govern all trading done in public areas in En- nistymon, Lisdoonvarna and Mil- town Malbay.
These bylaws will effect all year- round trading taking place, such as the Tuesday market in Ennistymon, as-well-as one off events such as the Willie Clancy Festival in Miltown and the Matchmaking in Lisdoon- VeNe IT
A new licensing system will be set up to limit the amount of space taken up by the casual traders. The laws will also make a permanent provision for the traders and prevent members of the public from parking in the areas provided during desig- nated trading hours.
Seven year round trading licenses will be made available for Ennisty- mon, while Miltown Malbay and Lis- doonvarna will get three apiece. The
licenses will cost €400 annually and each trader will be allowed to pur- chase a maximum of two licenses.
“IT would be supportive of limiting the amount of places available,’ said Councillor Martin Conway (FF).
“One of the traders has taken out substantial leverage over the council the last two or three years.”
It is hoped that the new system of regulation will help ease traffic con- gestion at busy times in the three towns as-well-as bring more order to the areas where people trade.
Traders will still be allowed to ap- ply for a special event licence to trade during occasions such as the Willie Clancy Summer School in Miltown Malbay and the Matchmaking Fes- tival in Lisdoonvarna, but locations earmarked for year-round traders will be preserved for them during iW STonoMm BUDO
A condition on the year-round li- cence also states that traders must be in a position to trade before 10am or
cars can freely park on the spot.
Councillor Joe Arkins (FG) also proposed that the trading stands be required to face the footpath rather than the road, thus allowing people to shop without being an obstacle to traffic. This idea was shelved, how- ever, as it was felt that pedestrians may then be forced to use the road if the footpaths became over crowded.
Clare County Council’s move to place closer regulations on casual traders comes in the aftermath of a six month impass between the local authority and traders over the right to trade and busk at the Cliffs of Moher Visitors Centre. This long running dispute was eventually decided in favour of the local authority in the courts last month.