Belfast Council is looking at permitting new trade sites at Writer’s Square in the City Centre and Annadale Embankment in South Belfast.
At the Belfast City Council Licensing Committee in City Hall this week, councillors agreed to commence consultation with statutory bodies and other interested parties after applications were received for the creation of new designated trading sites.
Six sites have been proposed for Writers Square opposite St Anne’s Cathedral, while at an Annadale Embankment layby a proposal has been put forward for the sale of hot and cold non-alcoholic beverages, confectionery, ice cream and cold food.
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Under the provisions of the Street Trading Act (NI) 2001 a district council has powers to designate and rescind specific streets or parts of streets as suitable for trading. The Act also allows councils powers in relation to the commodities or services to be supplied in specific streets. If a street or the commodity to be offered has not been designated under the Act the Council cannot issue a licence for street trading from a stationary position in that street.
The council has to follow careful procedure to create a street trading site. It has to give public notice of the proposal, consult with the PSNI and the Department for Infrastructure and other persons it considers appropriate, and consider any representations.
If it sees the application fit, it has to publish notice of the outcome for two consecutive weeks in two or more newspapers, giving not less than 28 days between the date of the publication and the date of the resolution.
At the committee the council officer told elected members: “There are six proposed for Writer’s Square, this is an application from the ( Stormont ) Department for Communities, looking to bring some animation into that square.”
He said: “Once we get feedback from all the consultees we will bring this before you as whether or not you wish to designate these sites or not.”
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