Unlicensed street sellers 'no problem' say police (From Western Telegraph)

Unlicensed street sellers 'no problem' say police

Moving on hair-braiders, performing clowns, pan pipers and street ice-cream sellers from the centre of Tenby is not a top policing priority, says the town's inspector Les Clark.

Only if the individual is disorderly would the police intervene, although they will try to keep the Five Arches clear so pedestrians can get through, the officer said this week.

Although businesses in the town are so concerned about street trading that they have sent a petition to Pembrokeshire County Council, street sellers 'do not cause me one iota of a problem', stated the Inspector.

He told Tenby Town Council that last year there were only two complaints about street trading 'not motivated by commercial considerations'.

"One was about the noise from the pan pipers group and the other from a local man who thought all hair-braiders were drug users and should be searched immediately," he revealed.

Inspector Clark accepted that, by occupying a stool on the pavement, a hair-braider may cause an obstruction, but this would be difficult to justify during pedestrianisation when pubs and cafes have tables and chairs on the streets.

He has now suggested that the town council consider temporary signs asking itinerant traders not to use the Five Arches area.

He added: "I understand there may be limited licensing of street trading this year and I support this. It is surely better to regulate the inevitable rather than pretend we can stop it for ever.

But he warned: "Even with limited licensing, I will still be in the position of having no control over individuals who carry out activities that do not need to be licensed, such as hair-brading, clowning or genuine peddling."