What Happens If There Are Objections to My Street Trading Consent?

by laura
(manchester)

Mobile catering trailer parked on a UK residential street corner

Mobile catering trailer parked on a UK residential street corner

I have applied to Manchester council for my street consent I have followed all guide lines and have every certificate needed in place I wasn't due to find out if I had my consent till the 30th of October but im very impatient gave them a quick pushy call and was told there are 4 objections so I know have to attend a hearing I did some digging and found out that one of the businesses close to where I want to trade has an issue with me bringing traffic and they may park outside his business (id previously spoken to this guy before I applied n he had a moan about ppl parking outside anyway but I tried to make peace as he sells fresh eggs and veg and I mention I would like to buy from him if I got the pitch), I also found out he got his wife to object from there home address which is 10 mins walk up the road and also there neighbour, going on about problems they are having with cars parked at the bottom of there street already with out me being there bear in mind I am not trading at the bottom of there street, me personally I think they are doing it to stop any cars parking out side the husbands business which is ten mins walk away from the other 2 objections, then there Manchester regeneration who have put in an objection saying I will be blocking pathways making it difficult for people to by pass me, the area I want to trade from is shaped in a triangle there is nothing there no building's benches just a patch of grass with no crossing for people to access it safely from the a road but easy for the people from the businesses from the other side to come to me is there such a law where the pavement has to be over a certain width to make it safe from me to trade at I really want to fight this as it is a good spot and there have been other vans there in the past

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May 29, 2026
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by: MobCater

It's a frustrating spot to be in, laura, and you have my sympathy, but the fact you've been given a hearing date is actually good news. It means the council hasn't refused you, they simply want to weigh the objections before they decide, and that gives you a real chance to put your side across.

A bit of background so you know where you stand. In England, street trading on a public street is controlled by the council under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982. Manchester runs a consent system, which means granting your pitch is at the council's discretion. They'll look at things like whether your unit would obstruct the footway, whether it's safe for people to reach you, and whether it would cause a genuine nuisance. The two private objections you've described, the egg-and-veg seller and his wife from up the road, are really about parking and competition, and councils tend to give those a lot less weight than a highways or safety point. The objection that matters most is the one from the regeneration team about blocking the pathway, so that's where I'd put your energy.

On the pavement question, there isn't a single magic width written into law that automatically allows or bans you. What the council weighs up is whether enough clear, safe space is left for pedestrians, including wheelchairs and pushchairs, once your unit is in place. So rather than hunting for a rule to quote at them, I'd turn up with a simple sketch or a few photos showing exactly where you'd stand, how much footway is left, and how people would reach you safely. If other vans have traded on that triangle before without any trouble, say so, and bring whatever evidence you can.

When you go to the hearing, stay calm and professional, deal with each objection in turn, and show you're happy to work with the council on access and keeping the spot tidy. That cooperative attitude counts for a lot. One honest note: with a consent rather than a licence there's usually no formal right of appeal if they say no, so the hearing really is your moment. Make it count.

Best of luck

David

Disclaimer: This is general advice for UK mobile catering. Street trading rules and the way councils handle objections vary from one authority to the next, so always check with your local council's licensing team about your own situation before you start trading.

Try the free MobCater App, our startup checklist and guide walks you through every step: https://www.mobcater.co.uk/mobile-catering.html

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