Market Traders

• Email: HighwaysandNeighbourhoodServices@northumberland.gov.uk
• Phone: 0345 6006400
• Write: Local Services, Northumberland County Council, County Hall, Morpeth, NE61 2EF

A new financial incentive scheme was launched by Northumberland County Council in May 2019 to encourage would-be-traders to take a stall at one of the county’s vibrant markets.

For any queries, please contact the county council’s market manager Neil Brown for more information:

• Email: neil.brown@northumberland.gov.uk 
• Telephone: 07909 688174.  

The cost of trading differs depending on various factors, from the time of year, to weather conditions, market location and size of stall.

To find out how much it is to trade at one of our markets, please contact the relevant market officer who will be happy to talk it through with you.

• Operating rules (all markets)
• Morpeth farmers market advice for traders
• New trader application form
• Markets Strategy 2010-2015

Our customer charter

We’re committed to providing a quality market service, which contributes toward the economy. This charter sets out our commitment for providing the market service, the standards you can expect from us and how you can help us meet these standards.

The market service covers the provision and management of open markets throughout Northumberland.

We aim to:

• ensure all people selling food comply with the Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations 1995 and Food Safety Act 1990
• ensure all traders hold a valid public liability insurance certificate
• provide an effective service to the public by reviewing and updating our procedures to take account of your views

What you can expect from us

• provide a helpful, friendly and courteous service
• deal with queries and complaints from members of the public
• maintain a register of market traders and products sold and make sure it is available for you
• make sure market rules and regulations are complied with and the market area is a safe place to shop
• remove all refuse and signage, and sweep the area leaving it clean and tidy for the next trading day

• telling us your concerns
• treating employees in the same way you would wish to be treated
• being considerate to other market traders and shoppers

Instructions for traders

• follow market rules
• not cause an obstruction to pedestrians and vehicular traffic
• refrain from causing a nuisance to the public and market traders when handing out leaflets or soliciting signatories to a petition
• conduct themselves within the law with respect to common decency
• not be abusive, racist or use inflammatory language or written material contrary to existing law

Right of refusal

The council reserves the right to refuse permission to a political party or campaign group to operate on a market if it reasonably believes any market rules or this protocol will be breached.

A right of appeal rests with the head of neighbourhood services acting in consultation with the chief legal officer or service manager of democratic services.

Northumberland County Council has reviewed the types of products market traders are allowed to sell at market in an effort to improve public safety.

The move is in response to concerns from the public about secondhand electrical items being sold at the markets and the results of inspections carried out by trading standards officers who found significant safety and testing issues with some of the items on sale.

Market traders are no longer permitted to sell secondhand electrical goods and secondhand car parts on council-owned markets in the county.

The selling of food products

Any traders selling food should contact your local Environmental health service

Advice for market traders

If you are looking to be a market trader, have a read through some simple steps that will help you to stay within the law here.

Markets cancellation

In the event of adverse weather conditions or other factors, markets may be cancelled.

For any enquiries, please contact Neil Brown, Markets Manager, Northumberland:

• Email: Neil.Brown@northumberland.gov.uk
• Telephone: 07909 688174