Become a market trader

There are two types of trader, regular and casual. Below we tell you how they get a stall:

Regular traders

These have the right to occupy the same stall on a given day. Also, to 'set up' that stall before a specific 'letting' time.

• They are granted a holiday entitlement of three weeks per year, after a qualifying period of twelve months.
• In return, they pay a reservation fee if they do not attend the market to maintain their permanent allocation. (This is equal to half the normal stall charge.)

Casual traders

These take a chance on being allocated a stall on the days that they attend a market. They pay no charges on days that they do not attend. They will often get the chance to become a regular trader.

On our markets, the normal letting procedure for casuals takes place at 9am on the market ground.

• On the first visit, each trader must complete a registration form, issued and retained by the Market Inspector.
• Identification showing proof of address is needed on the trader's first visit, such as a driving licence.
• A copy of the market regulations is issued and details are entered at the bottom of the casual list.

The Markets Service is currently reviewing this procedure. Future procedures may include:

• Photo proof, to be kept with the application form.
• The issue of a 'trader identification badge'.

Each attendance, on a particular day, gains the trader an attendance point, which is recorded by the Market Inspector. During the letting process:

• Stalls are first offered to traders with the most attendance points, proceeding until:
  • all the stalls have been allocated;
  • or all traders have a stall.
• Casuals who are absent from the market for three consecutive weeks are removed from the 'Casual List'.
• After around five weeks, the top Casual trader will be offered a vacant stall as a Regular trader. (This depends on the position of that stall and the goods sold.)

All regular stallholders on any open market may use extra stalls at discounted rates. This is after the casual allocation has taken place and at the discretion of the Market Inspector, if:

• Stallholding is one stall, an extra stall may be taken at ½ the normal stall charge.
• The stallholding is in excess of one stall, a further stall may be taken free of charge. This applies only to the use of adjacent open market stalls and is subject to conditions and availability.

Other charges

• An extra charge of £2 per stall applies to casual traders between 1st November and 25th December in any year.
• All payments are to be made by card. (Please note: A fee of £1 is charged for tolls paid in cash.)

Please note: More space may be taken at the discretion of the Senior Officer and is charged pro rata.

1. Allocations of stalls are on a daily personal basis only, at the Markets' Manager's absolute discretion. Stalls will not be allocated to a limited company or partnership. In the event of a registered trader not attending at the stall in person he/she must, on request, provide satisfactory documentary evidence of employment of staff. Failure to do so will necessitate the personal attendance of the trader at the stall.
2. Allocations of stalls are subject to an official application which should be completed in full. All registered traders must ensure that these details are accurate at all times and advise the Markets' Manager of any change to those details and are accurately recorded.
3. It shall be the right of the Council to refuse to allocate a stall to any person.
4. The market shall be open to the public from 9am to 4.30pm on each market day.
5. The Markets' Manager may, in his absolute discretion, cancel the market on any given day and the Council shall not be liable for any loss incurred as a result of the cancellation.
6. All motor vehicles to be off the market ground between 9.30am and 4.30pm unless prior consent from a member of the Markets' Division has been given.
7. The re-allocation of stalls to an immediate member of the registered trader's family will be considered upon written request. This will be limited to husband, wife, son, daughter, mother, father, brother or sister and will be subject to that person having been actively associated with the registered trader's business at the stall for a minimum of 2 years previously and to this being their livelihood during this period. If necessary, documentary evidence must be submitted to substantiate these requirements. Family re-allocations will not be considered to relatives who occupy space in their own right on any market.
8. Stalls not claimed by 9am will be re-allocated unless prior notification is given. After such notification is received, should the trader then not attend at the stall, the full charge will be payable.
9. Absence resulting from illness will only be accepted with the authority of a medical certificate. These will not be necessary for the first two weeks of absence but must be produced prior to the third week of absence. Failure to do so will result in the allocation of the stall/s being immediately withdrawn.
10. Retaining fees shall be applicable for absences when no holiday entitlement is available. This shall be in accordance with the charges laid down from time to time by the Council.
11. Registered traders will be permitted to be absent for up to three weeks holiday in any year, without payment of any retaining fees, after completion of a period of 12 months as a registered trader provided that at least seven days' notice is given to the Markets' Manager otherwise regulations number 8 and number 10 shall apply.
12. After unauthorised absence of three consecutive weeks, the trader's allocation will be withdrawn by the Council and the stall/s re-allocated to another trader.
13. Tolls for stalls, storage and other charges shall be in accordance with the scale laid down from time to time by the Council.
14. All charges shall be payable as and when demanded by the Markets' Manager or the authorised representative.
15. Tolls for allocated stalls will be payable by a trader (whether the stall/s is/are used or not) in accordance with the levels laid down from time to time by the Council.
16. Only the Council's official receipts will be recognised as proof of payment of charges and if requested must be produced to any authorised representative of the Council on the day of issue.
17. The giving of gratuities in any form by traders to any Council employee is strictly forbidden.
18. All traders shall remove all merchandise, equipment and fittings from the stall at the end of each trading day.
19. Traders shall not attach to or place onto a stall any fittings or merchandise without the prior consent of the Markets' Manager.
20. Only articles with the permission of the Markets' Manager shall be allowed outside the stall perimeter and no articles shall be permitted forward of the stall front upright bar to inner stall or hang so as to project beyond the front upright bar to outer stall.
21. Traders are required to keep the stalls in a clean and tidy condition and remove from site any rubbish that may accumulate to the receptacles provided.
22. The cost of repairing any damage to a stall or equipment contained thereon shall if it is by neglect or improper use by the trader be charged to the trader.
23. Traders shall not fix to the electric points any equipment other than one light bulb per point. (Maximum 100w bulb to be provided by the trader.)
24. All traders will be expected to keep their stall well stocked and to display goods for sale during stipulated opening hours of the market.
25. All applications for stalls and additional stalls or allocation of other stalls must be made in writing to the Markets' Manager.
26. Traders using stalls for the sale of food for human consumption must comply in all respects with the current provisions, regulations and statutory requirements relating to food hygiene.
27. All stalls and pitching sites shall be vacated by 5.30pm and the market area by 6.00pm.
28. Reasonable pedestrian and vehicular access shall be available at all times in all areas of the market. Traders shall not block or restrict adequate movement in any walkway or roadway.
29. All reasonable requests and instructions of the Markets' Manager or the authorised representative shall be complied with.
30. Only those goods and commodities previously agreed in writing shall be permitted to be offered for sale.
31. Stall boards must not be placed on the ground for standing on or used for any other purposed other than on the stall for the display of goods.
32. The permitted sound level of any live or recorded music being played will be at the direction of the officer in charge.
33. No dogs or other pets shall be kept at the stall through the hours of trading.
34. No trader shall sell or permit to be sold ornamental weapons or replica guns of any description.
35. No trader shall sell or permit to be sold any item that contravene:
    • Copyright Design and Patents Act 1988;
    • Trade Descriptions Act 1968;
    • Trademarks Act 1994; Video Recordings Act 1984;
    • and similar associated legislation.
36. The use of obscene language or any act or conduct which may cause offence to other traders, market officers, partner organisations or members of the public, is strictly forbidden in any form. In particular abusive or discriminatory behaviour of a racist or sexist nature is strictly forbidden.
37. All legislation, Council procedures and local byelaws shall be observed and complied with at all times.
38. In the event of any breach of these conditions, or of any conduct prejudicial to the efficient management of the market, the Markets' Manager may, in his absolute discretion suspend the trader from standing for such a period as he thinks fit. Any notice required to be served by the Council, shall be deemed to be served if delivered personally to the stallholder or if sent by post or email to any address of the stallholder.
39. Any complaints or requests by stallholders relative to the administration of the market must be made in writing to the Markets' Manager.
40. Nothing herein shall be deemed to create the relationship of Landlord and Tenant between the Council and the stallholder.
41. The Council reserve the right to amend these regulations annually on 1st April or at such time it deems appropriate.