Just one quarter of designated casual trading spots being used in Kilkenny towns

There are 13 casual trading bays across one Kilkenny district but just three are in regular use, it has been revealed.

The information was shared with councillors in the Callan Thomastown municipal district as part of a review of the current casual trading bylaws.

Sites are currently designated in Graignamanagh, Thomastown, Inistioge and several other areas in the district. Not all are in use, councillors were told.

In Graignamanagh three bays are designated in the boat house carpark; in Thomastown there are two in the quay car park and one on Mill Street by the Ollie Walsh statue.

In Callan there are two designated spaces, one each in the Motte Field and the Fair Green.

Inistioge, Hugginstown, Bennettsbridge, Stoneyford and Kells each have one designated casual trading bay.

The three spots in regular use are in Graignamanagh, Inistioge and Hugginstown. The Kells site is used on a part-time basis.

When maps of the locations were presented to councillors it was suggested one reason for many not being used was because some of those locations “make no sense.”

Amendments to the current bylaws are being proposed to take into account designated market areas; permitted trading days, operating hours, types of goods; fee structures; and specific pitches and trading areas.

Senior Executive Officer with Kilkenny County Council, Michael Arthurs, said the proposed amendments have already been approved by the council’s special policy committee.

The next steps in the process will see public consultation before the proposals are finalised and brought back before councillors.

Unusually for proposed bylaw changes, with the casual trading bylaws there is then a period of time for district court challenges, before the new bylaws are adopted.

Stall holders and traders must apply to the county council for a licence to use the casual trading bays.

District Chair, Cllr Deirdre Cullen, said some of the current locations “don’t make sense.”

Mr Arthurs assured Cllr Joe Lyons that the designated bays would not be ‘lost’ for lack of use, only a bylaw change can take them out of use.

Speaking at the meeting, Director of Services Fiona Deegan said there might be areas of the district that have developed since the last bylaw amendment in 2021 and could benefit from casual trading designation now.

Councillors were asked to suggest possible new areas and, during the public consultation, members of the public will also be invited to make suggestions.

The bylaws only apply to council property, the meeting was told. Anyone intending to set up a business in other areas must go through the planning process.

Cllr Cullen said if someone has a viable business idea they should be given every opportunity to pursue that.

Cllr Michael Doyle supported a second casual trading bay for Inistioge. While there was no obvious site for it, he said it would be “hugely beneficial” for the area.

One of the areas the council is currently looking at is the power sources used by casual traders.

Mr Arthurs said the council is looking into permanent power sources because using power generators can cause noise and other pollution.

Councillors heard this is a complicated issue.

Cllr Doyle cautioned they did not want to put traders out of business or not consider an area because they could not get connected to the electricity grid.

Ms Deegan said any application for a casual trading licence has to go before the local area engineer before it is granted. Every case will be looked at individually and there may be areas where it is possible to use a generator.

The draft bylaws will now proceed to the consultation stage.