Street traders to be barred from double yellow lines

Street traders are to be barred from setting up on double yellow lines in Brighton and Hove after a rise in the number of complaints.

Twelve complaints have been made to Brighton and Hove City Council about illegal trading in the six months from April.

And 12 complaints were received about traders causing a stink, an obstruction, litter or noise nuisance, a report to the council’s Licensing Committee said.

The highest number of complaints in a full year totalled 17 in 2014-15, the committee was told today (Thursday 23 November).

The review was prompted in part after the council licensed a burger van to operate from double yellow lines outside Hove Town Hall where licensing officials and Sussex Police are based.

Much of its trade comes from a steady stream of people working at the town hall in Norton Road.

Double yellow lines are only permitted on stretches of road where parking would be dangerous or cause an obstruction.

The revised street trading conditions also bar trading from residential and shared pay and display bays.

But pay and display bays can be used provided the trader sticks to the time restrictions and pays to park there.

Councillor Jackie O’Quinn, who chairs the committee, said: “I think that will go down very well with residents.”

After the meeting Councillor Lee Wares welcomed the move, pointing out that the review of street trading came about as the result of a Conservative motion.

It was aimed at addressing, among other things, traders being given permits to trade on double yellow lines where if anyone else parked, they would have risked being given a parking ticket.

Councillor Wares, who brought the original motion, said: “I am pleased that we now have more sensible conditions for street trading.

“I am also pleased that Labour’s chair, Councillor O’Quinn, feels this will be welcomed by residents given her leader, Councillor Morgan, ridiculed the idea when we first asked for the review.”