Oxford City Council officers are asking a licensing sub?committee to confirm and extend the suspension of Soloman’s Kebabs’ street?trading consent on St Giles’.
On July 13, the trader found their pitch in St Giles’ outside the Ashmolean Museum obstructed by metal hoardings authorised by Oxfordshire County Council.
No prior notice was given to the city council before the hoardings were erected, documents say.
St Giles’, Oxford (Image: Matt Simpson)
However, since this happened, there is now an “effective system of communication” has now been agreed between both authorities.
The suspension prevents fees being charged while the pitch is unusable.
Consent is now being sought by the city council to suspend the St Giles’ street-trading until October 13 or if hoardings are removed.
READ MORE: Major update given on Jeremy Clarkson sheep ‘theft’ case
Documents for the councillors, who will meet on Monday to discuss, say alternative trading within the same layby was explored with the kebab van, but was rejected.
Reasons include Soloman’s Grill uses an electricity box, which is now contained within the hoarding.
“Whilst the builder was agreeable and provided access to the hoarding for the traders, the inside was identified by the traders as a health and safety hazard and so unusable,” documents say.
“Trading next to the hoarding didn’t leave sufficient space on the highway for the safe passage of traffic.
“Moving further along the layby would have required trading using an electricity generator. Solomon’s Oxford Grill don’t possess one and informed me that the costs of hiring or buying one would be prohibitive for their business.
“Any more distantly located position must be subject to a fresh street trading consent application, considered and granted by sub-committee before trading could be allowed.
“The shortage of available trading locations in Oxford City Centre and the time delay attached to this option made it unviable.”
St Giles’, Oxford (Image: Matt Simpson)
Street trading in St Giles’, Oxford, is strictly regulated by Oxford City Council, which classifies all roads and public areas in the city as “consent streets” requiring official local authority permission to trade.
New city centre consent applications cost £458, with annual fees scaling up depending on the nature and location of the pitch.
Annual consent costs £10,546, the city council’s website says.
Any selling, exposing, or offering for sale of articles in St Giles’ needs prior street trading consent from the council, unless specifically exempted.
Traditional charter events like the historic St Giles’ Fair operate under specific historic charters and agreements with the Showmen’s Guild rather than standard individual street trading consents.
Soloman’s Grill could not be reached for a comment.
#Oxford #kebab #van #trade #due #blocked #pitch