Charity hits out at Shrewsbury street trading rules

Riding for the Disabled regularly holds table top sales in the Square in Shrewsbury and has been doing so for a couple of years.

But when it went to apply for the licence for its September sale it was told it would have to pay £111 for the privilege and also fulfil a number of criteria which the council has asked for.

Carla Howarth, chair of the Rea Valley group of Riding for the Disabled, said: "The council is robbing us blind. There are eight Riding for the Disabled groups in Shropshire, all part of the National Organisation, but all independent charities who have to raise their own money.

"We provide riding for children and adults at various riding stables in Shropshire at either free or discounted rates but in order to do this we have to raise money ourselves.

"One of the ways in which we have raised money in the past is to hold bric-a-brac sales.

"However this year, whilst making the booking and securing a slot for September I was informed Shropshire Council has now imposed a licencing process for holding our sale in September.

"Not only will the booking cost £111 - £76 licence fee and £35 for the hire of the Square - for effectively four trestle tables and a Shetland pony, but we have to get two business referees, send pictures in of the stalls plus a diagram and have someone with a DBS certificate which is no more than three months old.

"All RDA volunteers are DBS cleared every three years, which we pay for.

"We are incensed that there is no dispensation for charitable organisations which inadvertently save the council money as we are providing a valuable service at subsidised rates."

Frances Darling, Shropshire Council’s trading standards and licensing operations manager, said: “Shropshire Council fully recognises the good work undertaken and the benefits provided by charities, such as local Riding for the Disabled Groups, and we are sorry that the Rea Valley Group feels we are unfairly penalising charitable organisations. This is most definitely not the council’s intention.

“Shropshire Council’s licensing team has been in discussion with the Rea Valley Group and has advised them of alternative solutions through both the street collection regime and raffle provisions under non-commercial prize gaming.

"These alternatives will enable the group to continue to raise funds for their charity in The Square, without having to pay the £76 street trading fee or meet the robust requirements of the council’s Street Trading Policy.

"The licensing team are very willing to provide further advice to assist the Rea Valley Group to submit the appropriate application(s), where required, and to enable the group to comply with the relevant legislative requirements to ensure they can continue with their valuable fundraising activities.

“Where charities want to operate in a street trading environment, it is not appropriate for the council to reduce the level of protection for the public simply because the applicant is a charity; however, there are alternative ways to allow fundraising activities to continue without undermining public safety and still promoting the ability of charities to carry out legitimate fundraising activities.”