Street Food Market Applicant Set to Try Again
Richard Johnson says refusal was due to 'technicalities'
Richard Johnson pitching his street food concept to the Dragons. Picture: BBC
March 10, 2023
The man behind a bid to launch a monthly street food market has said he will be resubmitting his application after a council committee rejected his first attempt.
Richard Johnson says he feels that his submission failed on a ‘couple of technicalities’ but that he was ‘excited to reapply. Watch this space.’
The Licensing Panel, which consisted of two Labour and one Conservative council and met on Tuesday 7 March, had seen a range of comments on the proposal with 12 against and 3 in favour. Most of the submissions against the plan mentioned unfair competition with other objections relating to congestion, parking problems and litter caused by existing markets. Those in favour of the proposal contended that markets had helped boost footfall on the High Road and therefore helped increase retail sales on the High Road.
The discussion at the panel meeting focus on the impact that the market, which would be on the fourth Sunday of the month and have up to 64 stalls, would have on local restaurants and cafes.
Several restaurant owners and shopkeepers from the area around the proposed market site in Old Market Place were present at the meeting with some local residents also attend to address the panel.
The refusal was the second disappointment for Mr Johnson recently as his request for funding for his Street Market Food concept was turned down by the panel on Dragons Den.
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