Organisers of the Lincoln Christmas Market have responded to the frustrated stall holders by saying that they tried to limit the access of the street pedlars.
The traders were left frustrated this year at pedlars who were able to sell their goods to the public without paying a stall fee.
Stall holders had to pay thousands of pounds for a spot at the market and go through rigorous health and safety checks and fire safety checks.
However the pedlars only needed a licence, which costs £12, to sell their goods to an estimated 260,000 visitors.
Richard Baxter, Lincoln Christmas market stakeholder and experienced owner, said:
“We moved them (the street pedlars) to probably the best area for children because of the lights and balloons, so we placed them there rather than inside the castle or the lawn areas.
“It seemed to work, but (the stall owners were still) not happy.
“I used to have a stall in place where we were paying twelve hundred for a log cabin and a pedlars license is £12, so it’s a bit upsetting but there’s nothing we can do about it.
“However I can understand why some of the stallholders were a bit angry over the weekend.”
Lincoln City Council has said that there is nothing they or any other council can do about this.
A spokesperson from the council said:
“If a pedlar has a licence to trade issued by a police force in the UK, then they are able to trade on any public highway. This means there was no reason to move them on at the Christmas market.
“What we did do, however, is ensure they didn’t cause an obstruction and traded in quieter areas of the market.
“The police were very helpful in ensuring pedlars traded only where they should within the market.”
