Local Casual Trader Peter Kidney Loses Trading Licence After 15 Years

Casual Trader Peter Kidney, Fishmonger, has lost his trading licence after 15 years of trading in the town.  Mr Kidney’s licence was up for renewal but wasn’t renewed due to the Council reducing his days. Peter refused to pay the licence because of this but not because of the cost which was never an issue.  As a result of this he was then issued by the Council the equivalent of €700 in parking tickets which he is up in court for on March 22nd.

As the licence was not renewed it was issued to another trader.  Peter is very disappointed with the lack of support he has been given by the town Council as he has had a long standing business running in the town for over 15 years, which in the long run has brought in custom. This situation does not just belong to Peter but to Dave Prendigrast who also trades alongside Peter during the week, he is amongst many in the town who are now having these problems with the Town Council.

Peter felt so strongly about this unfair treatment that he drew up a petition which said, “Cobh Town Council are reviewing the Casual Trader licence and is proposing to cut a number of days and to increase the charges. This is detrimental to business’s which use the Trading area.”  Peter called to all the rate paying business’s in town who signed the petition without hesitation.  He then presented it to the Council who dismissed it as irrelevant and told Peter he was a day late for the council to act upon it. Peter wrote to the Town Mayor, Jim Quinlan asking him to intervene but at time of print had not received a written response.

Peter has a wife and two small children to support and because of this unfair treatment he will be forced to sign on the dole. Speaking to Peter recently he said “The town is dying and its about time the Council looked at the problem.