15 October 2025

Proposed changes to street trading in South Cambridgeshire aim to help small local businesses work in more places whilst giving local communities more of a say.

The District Council has just launched a public consultation into changes that could be made to its Street Trading Policy. The consultation launched today (Wednesday 15 October 2025) and runs until to Monday 24 November 2025.

South Cambridgeshire’s local traders in particular are being asked to share their views – although anyone is welcome to have their say.

The proposed alterations aim to modernise and streamline the street trading regime across the district, with proposed key changes including:

• A new “Ice Cream Trader” consent which would allow ice cream vans to trade anywhere in South Cambridgeshire - where they have agreement from a parish or town council. Currently, they must specify which streets they want to sell ice creams on, which can be a big burden for a small trader. There would be specific conditions on location, timing, and noise. The proposed condition around noise reflects the suggested best practice from central Government.
• Enhanced safeguarding measures requiring basic DBS checks for traders and their employees.
• Clearer application requirements, including written permissions from the County Council’s Highways team and landowners for trading locations – before a licence application is made. This would help ensure locations are appropriate for street trading and reduce wasted time for traders.
• The recognition of specific food hygiene training standards to ensure food safety.
• A more flexible approach to how long trading consents last for, moving away from a fixed expiry date.
• A simplified process for revoking consents, with appeals handled by District Councillors.

The Chair of South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Licensing Committee, Cllr Annika Osborne, said: “Street traders bring vibrancy and convenience to our villages and towns - offering everything from fresh produce to homemade arts and crafts right on people’s doorsteps. In rural communities like ours, they play a vital role in supporting local economies, reducing travel needs, and creating social spaces where people connect. We want to hear if people agree that these changes will support local businesses, improve safety and transparency, and make the street trading process more efficient for everyone involved. We would love to hear from traders, parish councils and residents to ensure the final policy reflects the needs of our communities.”

Feedback can be submitted via the Council’s consultation portal.

Responses will be considered by the Licensing Committee before any final decisions are made in the new year.