Trader buoyed by customer support
A MARKET trader has received phenomenal support after being forced to reduce the number of days he sells fruit and vegetables in Stamford's High Street.
Steve Byrne, 44, is pleased his customers are "fighting his corner" against South Kesteven District Council, which has limited when he can trade due to an investigation.
Mr Byrne, who sells fresh local produce, said previously he had run a stall on a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday as part of the market and on a Saturday. But this has been reduced by two days.
"The council has stopped us trading on Wednesdays and Thursdays," he said.
"My customers are absolutely disgusted and up in arms over this. Their support has been unbelievably overwhelming.
"The council is taking away what the people of Stamford wants.
"Many of them have sent letters to the council in support of the stall."
Mr Byrne, from Leicester, said he has been running a stall on a Friday for years and on the other days for about five months.
The council has already told him he can't trade on certain days following complaints, but he is yet to be told the nature of the complaints.
The council confirmed that Mr Byrne has a temporary licence which runs until July 31.
A council spokesman would not confirm whether Mr Byrne's licence would be renewed.
She said: "We are currently investigating a complaint with regard to Mr Byrne's licence and need to see how this progresses before considering the possibility of re-licensing."
The council's head of assets Paul Stokes did confirm last week that the complaint had been filed by a small independent business, but would not give further details.
This week he reiterated what he said last week and added: "We made the decision to reduce Mr Byrne's trading days during this investigation in an attempt to appease all interested parties."
Mr Byrne, who also runs a stall in Oakham, feels like he is in limbo, as his licence runs out in just over a week and after that he doesn't know what the future holds for him in Stamford.
He said: "I have just got to go along with the council on this and be grateful.
"I still don't know what is going to happen after next week."
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Weather for Stamford
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: North west
