See answers to previous information requests

I am writing to request information regarding street trading pitches within your jurisdiction. Specifically, I would like to request:

1. A list of all currently available pitches for street trading, especially isolated pitches and pitches on pavement.
We do not have designated pitches. All streets are designated ‘consent streets’ requiring consent. It is up to applicants to seek out a site and obtain permission from the landowner to use it.

2. If there are no pitches currently available, a list of all street trading pitches, along with the dates on which they are due for renewal.
Location; Licence expiry date
• Parking space 3 on lefthand side of entrance from Chalfont W: 28/02/2025
• Milestone Avenue: 09/04/2025
• Temple Island Meadows: 01/05/2025
• Gazelle Close, Winnersh: 04/05/2025
• Daneshill Industrial Estate: 18/05/2025
• Dinton Pastures Country Park, Davis Street, Hurst RG10 0TH: 20/05/2025
• Knowl Hill A4 layby, western end: 17/06/2025
• Spencers Wood Rec Ground Car Park and Winnersh Comm car park: 09/07/2025
• Hogwood Lane Industrial estate, Finchampstead: 26/07/2025
• School Green Shinfield Trading Location: 04/08/2025
• Lockdown Lodge, Hambledon Lock, Remenham Farm: 12/08/2025
• Ryeish Green Sports Hub, Hyde End Lane, Ryeish Green RG7 1ER: 16/08/2025
• Throughout Wokingham Borough: 06/09/2025
• Fishponds Road, Wokingham: 07/10/2025
• Swallowfield (Weds), Spencers Wood (Thurs), Winnersh (Sat): 14/11/2025
• Car Park of Staysure Tyres, 58-62 Langley Common Road: 09/12/2025
• Front Car Park, Ernest James House, Toutley Road, Wokingham: 09/12/2025
• Front garden of The Gamblers, Mole Road, Sindlesham: 31/01/2026
• Woodley Town Centre, Crockhamwell Road, Woodley RG5 3OH: 25/02/2026
• Wokingham Market Place: 01/03/2026
• The Dukes Head Wokingham Private Car Park: 02/04/2026
• Charvil (Mon), Spencer Wood (Tues), Sonning & Charvil (Weds): 12/04/2026

3. Where a person wishes to trade from a place that is not a designated site, please describe in detail your process for considering designating that place as a licence site e.g. comprehensive criteria's that needs to be met and comprehensive reasons why a licence to a new site may not be given.
In determining appropriateness, officers are to have due regard to, in particular (but not at the exclusion of others), the following either individually or collectively:
(i) the likely impact on the existing highway users either as a result of the use of the pitch by the trader or by the trader's customers
(ii) the location relative to any residents or businesses likely to be affected by the use of the site
(iii) the nature of the trade
(iv) the trading times
(v) appearance
(vi) impact upon street scene

Clearly there can be a location "suitable" for use at night but not during the day for example. Some traders are by their nature more likely to give rise to odours than others. Sites close to residential, or office blocks are more likely to be sensitive sites because of the visual and potential nuisance impact.

In order to avoid any one trader developing a monopoly, the maximum number of Consents that a trader or business shall be able to use at any one time in the Borough of Wokingham shall be one.

However, this policy is currently under review. The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982, Schedule 4, Paragraph 7 provides that:

(2)Subject to sub-paragraph (3) below, the council may grant a consent if they think fit.
(3)A street trading consent shall not be granted—
(a)to a person under the age of 17 years; or
(b)for any trading in a highway to which a control order under section 7 of the M1Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 is in force, other than trading to which the control order does not apply.