Content

Notification of decision following a Licensing Panel hearing to
determine an application for a temporary street trading licence
pursuant to the London Local Authorities Act 1990, as
amended
 

SITE:           
To be positioned along Chiswick High Road, The Old Market Place
area alongside Chiswick high Road, Adjacent to 123-211 Chiswick
High Road, Chiswick, W4
 
TO:
            
Chiswick Flower Market (“the
Applicant”)
  
TAKE NOTICE THAT
following a hearing before the Licensing and General
Purposes Sub-Committee (“the Licensing Panel” or
“Panel”)
 
ON 08 December
2025 the London Borough of
Hounslow, as the relevant Licensing
Authority
 
RESOLVED as follows:
 

1)        
The Licensing Panel convened to determine an
application in respect of the grant of a temporary street trading
licence made pursuant to section 31 of the London Local Authorities
Act 1990, as amended (the “Act”).
 

2)        
The application, which is shown at Appendix A of the
Agenda pack, sought a Temporary Street Trading Licence for up to 65
market stalls along Chiswick High Road between Linden Gardens to
past Brackley Road up to the Metro Bank in Chiswick as per the plan
shown at page 20 of the agenda pack, for the purposes of a Flower
Market. The market is proposed to run between 7am to 5:30pm every
1st Sunday of the month from 4th January 2026 to
7th June 2026 inclusive.
 

3)        
The hearing was in person. The Panel consisted of
three members. All members of the licensing Panel were in
attendance throughout the hearing, and during deliberation, which
took place separately in a closed session. 
 

4)        
The Applicant has been operating the Flower Market
in Chiswick for more than 5 years through a series of temporary
street trading licences, and the application seeks to continue to
trade under a new temporary licence in a similar form to the one
currently held by the Applicant, a copy of which is attached to the
Application.
 

5)        
The Applicant has requested three changes to the
licence. These are to include the sale of alcohol, to remove the
requirement of 1 metre distance between each stall and to remove
the requirement of 1 metre distance from benches.
 

6)        
During the consultation process the Licensing
Authority received no representations from members of the public.
Representations were received from a representative of Hounslow
Highways which is shown in Appendix C of the Agenda which expressed
concerns about the site E1 and the need to ensure clearance of
obstructions.
 

7)        
The Panel heard that Hounslow Highways had
misidentified the E1 site as Devonshire Road, but this should have
been Annandale Road. The Panel accepted that the location site in
E1 should be reinstated.
 
 

8)        
There have been representations from Councillor J
Emsley, Councillor R Mushiso and Councillor R Gill in support of
the Application. The representations are attached in Appendix D of
the Agenda.
 

9)        
Representations were also received from Councillor J
Biddolph who also attended.  Although
Councillor Biddolph was not objecting to the Application she put
forward some representations, which can be found attached at
Appendix B. The comments and representations relate to
accessibility, specifically in relation to those with disabilities
and families with buggies. Councillor J Biddolph felt strongly
about the importance of not starting a trend that leads to other
market organisers organising their stalls without adequate spacing.
This could potentially exclude disabled people in wheelchairs or
others with mobility limitations from the market.
 

10)    
In making its decision the Licensing Panel carefully
considered all the relevant information including:
 
-    Written and oral
representations submitted by all the parties
-
   Oral representations made by the
parties during the licensing panel hearing
-    The London Local
Authorities Act 1990 as amended (“the
Act”)
-    Hounslow
Council’s Street Trading Policy (“the
Policy”)
-    The Human Rights Act
1998
 

11)    
Kathleen Mitra, Steven Nutt, and Ollie Saunders were
present for the Applicant (and are together referred to as the
Applicant).
 

12)    
The Panel reminded the Applicant
that the sale of alcohol could not be considered in this
application in accordance with Street Trading Condition 26 in
appendix iii of the Street Trading Policy. The sale of alcohol
would need to be added to their Temporary Street Trading licence.
The Applicant can also apply for either a Premises Licence to cover
the entire market or a Temporary Event Notice for individual
stalls, however, this would have to be a separate application. This
was accepted by the Applicant. The Panel would also like to remind
the Applicant that if a Temporary Event Notice is obtained, they
may need to cordon off the area where alcohol is purchased and
consumed.
 

13)    
The Panel was informed that the market operates on
the 1st Sunday of the month, and the objective is to
make a difference to the Borough and invest back into the
community. The Panel also heard that the presence of the market
also increases footfall to nearby shops. In addition, the Panel
were informed that the market has been operating for 5 years and
has a good record of supporting the local community. Volunteers
also assist with running flower market.
 

14)    
The Application states that the stalls are either 6
metres wide or 3 metres wide. The set up is irregular as it varies
based on the needs of the individual trader operating the stall. In
addition to flowers, the Panel heard, that food was also sold;
mainly crepes. The Panel heard that the food vendors are
responsible for bringing their own water, removing their own waste
at the end of the day, and are able to use the local pub for
hygiene purposes.
 

15)    
The Panel heard that the Applicants publicised the
accessible routes nearby. They also have Marshalls on site to
assist with the movement of pedestrians. In addition, the
Applicants themselves are present and visible to deal with issues
that may occur.
 

16)    
Councillor Gill spoke of the benefits to the area in
having the market and his continued support over the years. He also
spoke of the benefits of the market, for example the benefit to the
local economy and that they have brought in grants which benefit
the area. Councillor Gill expressed his support for, and commended
the Applicants on the management of, the market.
 

17)    
The Panel also heard from Councillor J Biddolph who
made comments following correspondence she had received from local
residents, who felt they were excluded from the market by reasons
of their disability. The Panel heard that wheelchair users said
that there was no space for them to stop without them feeling that
they caused an obstruction. Councillor J Biddolph suggested that
some space between stalls could help to alleviate these concerns
but that space between every stall was not necessary. Councillor J
Biddolph also commended the Applicants on their management of the
market.
 

18)    
The Panel felt that having a space between stalls at
different points in the market would benefit residents who have
mobility issues, by providing a refuge space which would not
interfere with the flow of foot traffic. The Panel also felt that
space between every stall was not needed, especially to allow
flexibility of layout of pitches within the licensed
area.
 
DECISION:
 

19)    
The Act provides the Council with a measure of
discretion when deciding whether to issue a temporary street
trading licence and the Policy provides for all applications to
consider various issues as set out therein, which include
consideration of public safety, prevention of crime and disorder,
prevention of public nuisance, the appearance and suitability of
the stall/vehicle and environmental credentials.  The Policy also requires applications to consider
the needs of the area, this being the demand for the articles for
sale and the geographical location of the proposed site.
 

20)    
Having considered all the written and oral
representations by all parties, the Panel is of the view that the
Applicant appears to be operating the market in a satisfactory
manner, including ensuring that they are able to properly manage
the market. The Panel is also satisfied with the Applicant’s
organisation and marshalling of the market, including their
emergency procedures.
 

21)    
The Panel has therefore decided to GRANT the
application for a temporary street trading licence for a maximum of
65 stalls, in the location shown in the plan to the Application
shown at page 20 and 21, namely the area between Chiswick High Road
and Linden Gardens to past Brackley Road up to the Metro Bank in
Chiswick. The market is proposed to run between 7am to 5:30pm every
1st Sunday of the month from 4th January 2026 to
7th June 2026 inclusive.

 

Conditions Attached by the licensing
Sub-Committee:
 

22)    
There shall be no stalls placed within the area of
the Hogarth statue and the railings associated with the statue
should not be used to display any merchandise.
 

23)    
The standard Conditions allow a maximum width of any
licensed area which shall not exceed one third of the useable width
of the footpath. Furthermore, a minimum unobstructed footpath width
of 1.8 metres must be left clear and available and free from
obstruction to allow for safe and convenient pedestrian
movement.
 

24)    
The applicant must monitor to ensure that stalls are
more than 1 metre distance from the benches and are
accessible.
 

25)    
For every 12-metres of stall frontage, there must be
a minimum unobstructed gap of 50 cm between stalls. Within these 12
metres, the Applicants are free to arrange stalls in a suitable
configuration provided that the gap is maintained.
 

26)    
Traders must at no time obstruct those businesses on
Chiswick High Road who hold a pavement or temporary Street trading
licence.
 

27)    
The licence holder must always ensure any queues, or
the serving of customers does not impact the adjacent pavement or
any pedestrian crossing points in order to prevent obstruction and
to maintain public safety. Queues should also not impact upon
neighbouring premises and businesses.
 

28)    
The ingress and egress routes must at no point be
obstructed by the market for emergency services or
utilities.
 

29)    
The licence holder must ensure the market operates
in a safe and orderly manner and shall not do anything which may
cause a danger, nuisance or annoyance, damage or inconvenience to
the Council, any adjacent neighbouring premises or to any member of
the public.
 

30)    
The licence holder must ensure that all appropriate
road closures are applied for and approved prior to the date of the
market being held.
 

31)    
All risk assessment and operational documents must
be completed, approved, and reviewed regularly in conjunction with
the London Borough of Hounslow events team to allow the market to
take place.
 

32)    
The Licence holder must ensure clearance of the
market by 5.30pm.
 

33)    
Condition 48 of the standard Temporary Street
Trading Licence conditions does not apply as the Council no longer
issues ID passes to market holders.
 

Additional Conditions agreed by the licence
holder:
 

34)    
Stalls will be positioned such that sight line
obstruction does not occur.
 

35)    
Traffic Road signs will be kept clear of any
obstructions.
 

36)    
After market set-up, the market manager will
undertake a risk assessment site inspection ensuring sightlines and
set up comply with guidance. This will be continually monitored
throughout the day.
 

37)    
Marshalls will be informed of the necessity to keep
clear sightlines at junctions.
 

38)    
Any breaches will be reported to the site manager
and immediately dealt with
 

39)    
Stall holders nearest the road junctions will be
informed of their responsibility.
 

40)    
If deemed necessary, a barrier will be put up at
each junction on the pavement to warn pedestrians of the access
road.
 

41)    
There is no right of appeal by any party in relation
to the determination in respect of a temporary street trading
application.  The decision of the Panel
is therefore final.