Crack Down On illegal Street Traders

8.23.44pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 13th Jul 2006

Parliament Passes New Law

Powers to crack down on illegal street trading in parts of Leicester have become law after being passed by Parliament.

Leicester City Council has been given permission to shut down illegal street traders and impound their goods and stalls after years of problems with peddlers around the Clock Tower and Belgrave areas.

The bill was given Royal Assent by Parliament last Tuesday evening.

The new Leicester City Council Act will apply to any traders within the city's inner ring road, and in Belgrave, where street traders often set up during the annual Diwali celebrations.

City councillors will now agree a date for the powers to come into effect, before giving a month's notice of the act coming into force.

It is hoped the law will come into effect by the end of October in time for Christmas.

City council leader, Councillor Roger Blackmore said: "We have worked long and hard to put this bill through Parliament. "It results from widespread consultation with local traders and a range of interested parties, as well as members of the public. "I very much hope it will help combat the problem of illegal traders on the city's streets."