Car boot sales to be halted by 800-year-old laws

Ancient laws dating back to the time of Henry III and the Crusades will be used to clamp down on car boot sales causing traffic misery.

Communities in Featherstone and Himley have long complained of roads being brought to a standstill as bargain hunters from throughout the area flock to the sales.

South Staffordshire MP Gavin Williamson today revealed that district council chiefs have now asked the councils in neighbouring Wolverhampton and Dudley for help.

Both local authorities have market charters granted in the time of Henry III and giving the ruling nobles the power to ban markets from setting up near to any of their own retail markets.

Wolverhampton's was granted in 1258 and is still the subject of a dispute between the council and organisers of a planned car boot sale on a 40-acre field off the busy Wergs Road.

Even though the land, which stretches behind a 980ft wall, at the top of the A41 Wergs Road, is officially in Perton, South Staffordshire, the historic document still appears to give the city council the authority to stop a car boot sale.

Tory MP Mr Williamson has been campaigning for a change in the law to give councils greater regulatory powers, but said today it was hoped the charters could be used to impose controls on two car boot sales off the A460 Cannock Road at Featherstone and Shareshill and another in Himley. He said: "Featherstone councillor Bob Cope and I want councils to co-ordinate their activities.

"No-one wants to spoil enjoyment of car boot sales, but when they are done on such an industrial scale as this with hundreds of traders, there needs to be some regulation. The charters may be an effective tool."

Council spokesman Jamie Angus said: "We're co-operating with Wolverhampton and Dudley councils regarding the use of their market charter powers in helping to regulate car boots in South Staffordshire.

"Car boot sales are unpopular among many of our residents because of the disruption they can cause in our villages".

Planning laws allow organisers to hold 14 separate events in one year on any one site.