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A plan to regularise casual trading on the streets of Westport is to come before members of the local urban council at their December meeting. It has been suggested that two pitches be established outside the town hall with a further four at the opposite plinth to accommodate traders. Members of the authority agreed at their monthly meeting last week that they had a duty to protect existing established traders and the rate paying businesses in Westport. It was suggested that a decision be made on the location of trading pitches next month. At the start of the meeting Town Manager, Mr. Padraig Hughes, told members the area around the town hall and the plinth was to be considered in the allocations for trading pitches. Mr. Patrick Durcan informed the meeting there was a hotel that had been tastefully refurbished in the area and it was unfair that the limited spaces in front of the premises be taken up unless by a regular trader. He had no problem with the established trader. Mr. Declan Dever and Mr. Dermot Langan said there was also a problem with Browne's shoe shop and there was the issue of blocking off this business to be considered. Council chairman, Ms. Margaret Adams suggested the members consider the draft and discuss the issue at a special meeting. However Mr. Sean Staunton suggested a decision be made at the next meeting when the council would be looking at final proposals with facility for some alterations. He added two pitches instead of three was adequate in front of the Town Hall. Pitches should be held for the established traders. Mr. Patrick Durcan said business people who paid rates were faced with traders coming in during the summer months "taking what they can." It was commercially, morally and politically unacceptable. Mr. Dermot Langan said he would like to see some of the seasonal traders accommodated at some pitch, possibly at the plinth. Deputy Michael Ring said it was the duty of the council to protect those who pay rates. If everyone could trade on the street there would be no problem but the council had to be fair to the existing traders who paid their rates. Town manager, Mr. Padraig Hughes, suggested there be two pitches outside the town hall and four outside the plinth to cater for street traders. It was his opinion that there was this minimum sum to be successful. Mr. Hughes said he would put a revised plan before the council at their next meeting.
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