Swale, Street Trading Policy

Consultation on Swale Borough Council’s Draft Street Trading Policy

Consultation is open from 5th November 2026 until 31st December 2026

Swale Borough Council’s Street Trading Policy outlines the Council’s approach to the licensing of street trading throughout the borough. It is used when making decisions about whether to grant or refuse street trading consents and provides guidance to existing licence holders, new applicants and the public alike.

The aim of having a Street Trading Policy is to create a street trading environment which is sensitive to the needs of the public and businesses, provides quality consumer choice and contributes to the character and ambience of the local environment whilst ensuring public safety, and preventing crime and nuisance.

We have reviewed our current policy and are consulting on some proposed changes to it. The changes proposed are:

To include a new type of consent for trading on private property from unattended stands which meet certain criteria. This type of trading falls under the remit of street trading and traders require a consent. However, the amendment would apply a lower fee and simpler application process for trading of this nature which is generally on a smaller scale than traditional street traders such as ice cream or hot food vans.

To amend the condition under a street trading consent prohibiting trade within 400 metres of a school. For the revision of this condition we would like to seek public opinion on street trading in the vicinity of schools.

This consultation is open to both residents and businesses and your comments would be most welcome. The draft policy can be viewed at www.swale.gov.uk/consultations or can be sent to you via an email attachment.

To give your opinion on the policy and the proposed changes, please complete the survey which can be accessed via the consultation page of our website.

Alternatively, or if you would like to make additional comments on the draft Street Trading Policy, you can email them to licensing@swale.gov.uk. or write to us at the following address:
Swale Borough Council, Licensing Department, Swale House, East Street, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 3HT

At the end of the consultation period, the Licensing Authority will collate and consider the feedback received and may use this information to revise the draft before asking the Council to adopt the new policy formally.