shopkeepers and a doctors’ surgery have succeeded in their campaign to prevent street traders selling goods in a Sheffield suburb.
Businesses in Fir Vale were worried the competition could force some stores to close.
Sheffield Council’s licensing board rejected applications by Yasin Mohammed, of Oldham, Greater Manchester, to sell fruit and vegetables from his van on Bagley Road, Fir Vale, and Raja Khan, from Sheffield, to sell fruit and veg, chapati flour, soft drinks, eggs and toilet paper from a van on Owler Lane, also in Fir Vale.
Mr Mohammed wanted to trade every Wednesday between 12.30pm and 3.30pm, but objections were made by five shopkeepers and Page Hall Medical Centre.
One trader said: “Our business has been hit hard by people trading on the streets. We are struggling with paying fixed rates and taxes. The little profit we make would be taken away by these people.”
The surgery added: “We are concerned about the impact of waste, in particular litter and rat infestation.”
The surgery said it was also concerned that traffic from people calling at the street trader’s van could block the entrance to the surgery, which had to be kept clear for GPs carrying out urgent visits.
Mr Khan wanted to trade between 5pm and 8pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
But one shopkeeper who objected said: “We are opposed to this application as we feel that there are enough fruit and vegetable shops in this area and we are concerned about the effect it would have on our business and other traders.”
A letter from Hussain Brothers, who have a shop on Owler Lane, added: “We have been trading since 1970 but we are finding it difficult to survive.
“There are four fruit and veg shops and a Tesco Express. Shops are at risk of closing.”
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