Courts to decide on Kenmare trading

THREE SUBMISSIONS ON PROPOSED CHANGES TO CASUAL TRADING

KERRY County Council has said three notices of appeals have been made in relation to the Draft Casual Trading Bye-Laws for Kenmare ahead of the closing date for appeals to the District Court in early March.

The draft bye-laws for the town were put out for public consultation in November after a year of reviews into casual trading in the town by KCC and local groups.

At the outset of the publication containing the proposed bye-laws, the Council acknowledged it cannot extinguish existing market rights covering Kenmare, but said it may regulate the town’s market under the Casual Trading Act.

At a meeting of the members of South and West Kerry Municipal District in November 2016, the proposals received unanimous support. A deadline for submissions was set at January 20.

A second notice had to be published on December 21, after a difference over the wording of legislation regarding the period for appeal. A new deadline for submissions passed on Friday, February 10.

Among the contents of the Draft Bye-Laws were proposals to limit trading to 29 bays around the town’s park – on Park Lane and East Park Lane – from Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm, except on certain days designated by Council.

Licenses for trading would only be issued by KCC, who would assign a specific space to traders at a cost of €15 per day.

Anyone seeking a licence would have to apply at least 30 days in advance of trading.

KCC also plans to introduce a controversial one-way traffic system around the park, and a pedestrian crossing on Market Street.

Councillor Dan McCarthy said the bye-laws ‘aren’t perfect’, but said ‘things can’t continue as they are.’

“I hoped we’d get this situation sorted before the summer, and that’s still my hope, but the date for implementation is up in the air right now.”