KENMARE BRACED FOR NEW CASUAL TRADING LAWS

NEW BYE-LAWS REGULATING OUTDOOR TRADING AND DINING COME INTO EFFECT ON THURSDAY

KERRY County Council have warned that they will take appropriate enforcement action against businesses and market traders in the town of Kenmare who do not comply with the new bye-laws which come into effect this week.

This Thursday, July 12 will see the new casual trading byelaws come into place officially – ending a long and protracted battle over the regulation of trading in the town of Kenmare.

From this Thursday, market traders will only be able to trade in the specific designated area, around the town park, at Park Lane and East Park Lane, in the centre of the town.

Anyone wishing to trade will have to apply to Kerry County Council for a license and licenses will only be issued to those who have satisfied the criteria. They will be issued to market traders this week. In total there are 29 spaces allocated for market traders and the laws allow trading six days a week. Fair days are also included in the bye-laws.

These regulations apply to all market traders operating in all locations in the town.

All of the works necessary to facilitate the introduction of casual trading bays at Park Lane and East Park Lane and to enable casual trading to take place from July 12 2018 onwards have been put in place.

This includes two new pedestrian crossings and other physical measures to assist in managing the market.

Lining works remain to be undertaken but will be carried out later in the year to avoid the peak tourist season. A new road traffic flow is also now in operation to facilitate the new trading area with a one-way system now in place.

The deadline for removing tables and chairs and other unauthorised street furniture from the public road also come into effect as part of the byelaws this week and the council have warned that this will be enforced stringently after Thursday when the bye-laws legally come into force.

Letters have been sent to local businesses with regard to street furniture and Thursday is D-Day for removal of this furniture.