If you intend to sell, or offer for sale, any article (including a living thing) in a street or on the highway, you must apply for a street trading consent or licence. Trading will be allowed between the hours of 8am and 6.30pm Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the Market Place, Epsom. For trading outside these days you will require a Market Trader Licence from Epsom & Ewell Borough Councils Operational Services.
There are currently pitches available on Epsom Market. Please contact Licensing to discuss. We will also be offering a trial one month pitch and at the end of the one month if you wish to continue with your pitch your annual fee will be required.
From April 2011, Street Traders will be able to apply for a split pitch. This means that two Street Traders can apply for one pitch on the Market Place. Traders will have to agree at application time who will trade on the appropriate day. A full licence fee will be payable on application.
Epsom & Ewell Borough Council issue Seasonal Licences/Consents for a time limited period. All will be subject to Police approval which will take up to three working days.
Licences are renewed annually and require a current certificate of insurance for public liability. Street trading assistants will be required to complete an assistants application form. Applicants will need to supply two passport size photographs for their identity badge, and copies of identification documents such as a passport, driving licence or birth certificate.
Licences are issued under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982, whereby we have powers to control street trading activities within the Borough, and are considered on merit.
Applications may be placed on a waiting list if there are no vacant pitches available to protect public safety.
All food traders must be registered with the Environmental Health Department.
Applications should be made in writing (including by electronic means) to the Local Authority for the area you wish to trade.
You must provide specific information, including details of the street(s) or areas you wish to trade on and the days and times you wish to trade.
You will also be required to provide two photographs of yourself. You must comply with any conditions attached to a licence.
Eligibility Criteria
You must be over 17 years of age to hold a licence. Licences will be refused if any of the following grounds exist:
• there is not enough space in the street you wish to trade in, without
causing interference or inconvenience to street users
• you wish to trade for less days than any minimum required trading days
• you are unsuitable to hold a licence do to any previous convictions or for other
reasons
• you have previously failed to pay fees due under another street trading licence
or have failed to use a previous street trading licence.
Fees will be payable for applications and conditions may be attached. The fee is based upon an application and operating fee, should the application not be granted, you will be refunded half the fee. If you require any assistance throughout the application process, please contact us using the details below.
Link to the Applicants Guide for Street Trading Licence or Consent (pdf - 1.24mb)
Regulation Summary
Link to a summary of the regulation relating to this licence
Application Evaluation Process
Under certain circumstances if certain grounds for refusal exist the Council may still award a licence but for fewer days than required, or to allow trade in certain items.
The Council will either grant the application or serve a notice on you within a reasonable time. The notice will be served if the Council intend to refuse the application, grant it on different terms than those applied for, confine trading to a particular place in a street, vary conditions of a licence or revoke a licence.
The notice will detail the grounds for their decision and state that within seven days of the notice you can request in writing the opportunity to make representations.
Will Tacit Consent Apply?
Yes. This means that you will be able to act as though your application is granted if you have not heard from the Local Authority by the end of the target completion period.
Apply online
The EU Services Directive took effect in late December 2009 with an aim to open up the European Internal Market to cross-border trade in services. There is a requirement for Local Authorities to make certain licensing processes available online.
An online portal, "EUGO", has been established so that service providers can source information with regards to doing business within Europe. In the UK, the portal is called UK Welcomes and is hosted by Business Link.
Link to apply to become a street trader
Failed Application Redress
Please contact us in the first instance using the contact details below.
If you wish to appeal a decision of the Council you may appeal to the local Magistrates' court within 21 days of the date you were notified of the decision. You may appeal the decision of a Magistrates' Court to the local Crown Court.
Licence Holder Redress
Please contact us in the first instance.
If you wish to appeal a decision of the Council you may appeal to the local Magistrates' Court within 21 days of the date you were notified of the decision.
You may appeal the decision of a Magistrates' Court to the local Crown Court.
Consumer Complaint
We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first contact is made with the trader by you, preferably in the form a letter (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked, if you are located in the UK, Consumer Direct will give you advice. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre.
Fees and Charges