Street vendors operating in the Clutha District may have the number of their trading days limited.
The Clutha District Council will soon seek public feedback on a proposed review of its trading in public places bylaw.
Balclutha greengrocer Nancy Young initiated the review on September 2, when she asked the regulatory services committee to consider the impact itinerant traders were having on local businesses.
Planning and environment manager Murray Brass consulted the Otago Chamber of Commerce and interested main street retailers and prepared a report, which was presented to the Clutha District Council last week.
Proposed changes included restricting the number of days street vendors could operate to two in any 30 consecutive calendar days.
This would provide for short-term or one-off activities in retail areas, adding variety and interest for residents without allowing those traders to effectively "set up shop".
Main retail areas would be those shown as "service, retail, frontage" in the Clutha District Plan, including the central business areas of Balclutha, Clinton, Kaitangata, Lawrence, Milton, Owaka and Tapanui.
Mr Brass told councillors that trading on private property or outside the "service, retail and frontage" areas would not be restricted.
This would provide scope for longer-term activities but prevent direct competition with established `main-street' retailers.
Mr Brass told the Otago Daily Times yesterday that anybody was entitled to make a submission, not just ratepayers or Clutha District residents.
Anyone wishing to make a submission will have 20 working days from the notification date, which is yet to be announced.
