Roving traders raise concerns over street licences
WHEN my cabinet maker partner fitted out our narrowboat sailaway, one of the first areas completed was his ‘workshop’, all of 2m long, writes Anne Husar.
He cleverly built in lots of storage on both sides and under the floor for his many hand tools and carving chisels, along with a workbench and woodworking lathe. For many years this has kept him imaginatively occupied when we haven’t been cruising.
On returning to the UK with our boat after several years in Europe, we applied for a trader’s licence for use on the Canal & River Trust’s canals. We hoped it would add enjoyment to our cruising here and so it has turned out, even with the impact of Covid restrictions.
So, what do we traders add to the canals? For people using the towpath to come across a floating market is often a magical experience. So much colour from the fluttering bunting and the imaginative and varied crafts brightens the greyest day – and we’ve had plenty of those this year!
Many visitors have seen the posters for a weekend floating market in their town or city and are curious enough to walk to their canal and have a look. Many didn’t even know they had a canal nearby; it’s a completely new experience for them.
Others have been to a floating market before and look forward to seeing what’s on offer this time. Long established boats like the Cheese Boat and the Jam Butty have already got quite a following so for us newbies, all the lovely compliments give us confidence to continue.
Many of us belong to the Roving Canal Traders Association (RCTA) who do sterling work supporting floating traders and organising markets all over the system. This is not an easy task, even before Covid hit.
Liaising with local councils and CRT can be a frustrating time. Councils can refuse to give permission before the trust has and vice versa. Delays in permission then lead to delays in CRT restricted moorings notices going up in good time. This then leads to bad feeling with other boaters who may already be moored where the market will be held.
There are also the Covid regulations to be followed. Controlling numbers and movement on the towpath has to be done sensitively by the boaters taking part. Sometimes CRT volunteers attend to help, which is much appreciated.
Getting it right with a light touch so as not to spoil the atmosphere is so important. Not getting it right, the council’s Covid inspectors can close down the market immediately.
There is one other small cloud on the floating traders’ horizon, again involving the local councils. A few have decided that floating traders should pay a street trader’s licence when trading from their boat on a canal in their area. These, if granted, are prohibitively expensive, ignore the fact that traders sell from their boats, not on the towpath and of course that we all already pay for a trader’s licence through CRT.
The RCTA as well as other traders continue to be active in finding a way through this, both in dialogue with the councils and legally. CRT so far has offered very little support.
To end on a positive, floating markets with their blend of original crafts and flavourful food add colour and vibrancy to the canals, and, that word of the moment, well-being to all who find them. Long may they continue.