Street traders to pay new charges in South Staffordshire

Roadside cafés, flower sellers and ice cream vans in South Staffordshire will have to fork out hundreds of pounds each in licence fees under new plans.

Twelve-month licences would be issued under the proposals revealed today, with fees ranging from £670 to more than £1,300 charged to traders to set up pitches along streets across the district.

Council bosses hope the proposals, which would see street traders forced to get permission from the council to trade, will help tackle the problem of dodgy sellers and cowboy businessmen as well as raise £15,000 to £20,000 for the authority.

The move follows years of complaints from shop owners and businesses that mobile traders are not subject to the same restrictions that permanent companies are.

Council environment chief Councillor Roger Lees said the move would bring South Staffordshire in line with most other councils in the region.

"We often hear from businesses who pay their business rates but who are miffed that mobile traders aren't subject to the same financial restraints," he said.

"These plans should help level the playing field."

A four-week consultation was launched today and will end on May 18, with a full report expected in June.