A meeting of the Licensing Panel of Hounslow Council was held on Tuesday 18 March 2025 at 7:30 pm. The main item on the agenda was an application for a Temporary Street Trading licence to be granted to Cook Book Kitchen CIC. The application requested permission to continue running Chiswick Cheese Market between Linden Gardens and Annandale Road on Chiswick High Road on the third Sunday of each month.

Application for the grant of a Temporary Street Trading Licence in respect of Chiswick Cheese Market

A report was prepared for the panel that included the application from Cook Book Kitchen CIC for a temporary street trading licence to continue running Chiswick Cheese Market.

Cook Book Kitchen CIC requested permission to site up to 59 stalls and 6 'A' boards along Chiswick High Road between Linden Gardens and Annandale Road. The market sells fresh artisan cheese; all cheese related products; chutneys; sides for cheese, breads for cheese, items for mixed cheese boards, cheese/drink pairings, cheese boards and similar, anything to do with cheese, plus small amount of ready to eat cheese products.

The report notes that one representation from a member of the public objecting to the application was received. The objector raised concerns about a number of potential issues:

• Obstruction of the pavement, particularly near bike racks, by the market organisers' gazebo.
• One of the stalls blocking access to shops.
• Congestion and parking problems arising from traders arriving at and leaving the market, with potential public safety implications.
• Lack of space between stalls creating a hazard in the event of an incident requiring people to leave the area quickly.

The report goes on to describe the process for determining a temporary street trading licence application and lists the options open to the panel:

• To grant the application in part or in full, subject to standard conditions.
• To refuse the application.
• To grant the application in part or in full subject to standard conditions and with extra conditions attached.

The Council's Street Trading Policy

A copy of the Council's Street Trading Policy was included in the reports pack for this meeting.

This policy is intended to provide a framework for the Council’s approach to the licensing of street trading throughout the borough. It should be read in conjunction with any specific policies that the Council may agree from time to time, for particular areas in the borough.

In the development of this policy local traders, partner agencies and other stakeholders were consulted.

[...].

The aim of this Policy is to set out the general approach of the Council when considering:

• Applications for street designation orders;
• Applications for street trading licences;
• Applications for temporary licences;
• The revocation or prosecution for breach, of a licence.
• Enforcement of the legislation
• Conditions attached to licences.

The document states that the policy was produced in consultation with local traders and that it is intended to ensure that street trading in the borough is sensitive to the needs of residents, provides diversity and consumer choice, and seeks to enhance the character, ambience and safety of the environment.