Small independent traders who sell items from their homes or by the roadside in 'sheds or cupboards' are incensed after being issued street trading licence notices, with warnings of enforcement action for those who operate without one.

Those sellers who trade without a licence could now be fined up to £1,000 by Bassetlaw Council.

The new Street Trading Consents licence fees will apply to most sellers, whether they supply home-baked cakes in a weekend 'cake cupboard', or preserves or other goods outside their homes or farms, with honesty boxes for payment.

Applicable licence fees are currently £705 for six months, and £1,007 for a year, with renewals costing £875 for 12 months or £606 for six months.

Heather Price with her Retford Bake Shed, that has enabled her to get to know the local community.

placeholder image — Heather Price with her Retford Bake Shed, that has enabled her to get to know the local community.

Natalie Brooks, 37, opened her Rhodesia Bake Box - a small structure by her front door in Winifred Street - only a month ago.

She said: "The licencing is a big blow as I've only just got all set up. There was no warning of this at all. We were just told suddenly last Friday that we couldn't trade.

"It ruined the bank holiday weekend and as I had done all my baking I had to share the cakes out among family and friends.

"My bake box is purely cakes at weekends and is a little sideline to my wedding cake business that I've started, as I love baking. It doesn't bring much money in but it's been really well received and people seem to find it uplifting to be able to stop by and choose a cake.

"As shed sellers we have all got together as a group and are waiting for clarification from Bassetlaw Council as many of our questions haven't been answered.”

Heather Price has a Retford Bake Shed outside her home in Cherry Holt, that she has run for just short of a year at weekends only.

She pointed out that the new required licence can potentially lead to further requirements for trading such as planning permission, and considerable further costs.

Heather said: "This cost to people with a little sideline like mine is unrealistic - we just don't make that much money with them. Other councils give consent to trade without a licence so something similar could be offered here.

"All my baking is done in my home kitchen and I did everything I should re insurance and informing the council. When I was served notice on Friday that was the first I knew of it.

"The community has really embraced my little venture. People open the doors to the bake shed and do a little happy dance. It's lovely, and as I started this when I had just moved here from Bothamsall it helped me get to know people.

"People have been impacted by this in different ways. It's very sad and bigger than a hammer blow. All we will end up with is chains of bigger shops and nothing independent or original.”

Ginger Tom Cakes in Eaton informed his customers on social media that after two years of supplying cakes in a small roadside cupboard, his service cannot continue in the same way.

He said: 'I'm considering the best way forward from here, which may be an order for collection service.

'Thanks all so much for your support over the last two years…. I’m definitely going to continue in one form or another.”

One of many upset customers urged people via social media to write in to Bassetlaw Council to object to the licence imposition, saying: 'Many of us visit the cake shed in Carlton in Lindrick – it’s a small, affordable treat and something that genuinely brings a bit of joy to the community.'

A spokesperson for Bassetlaw District Council said: “Following extensive consultation and consideration over the last two years on a revised Street Trading Policy, the Council’s Licensing Committee agreed that types of small-scale regular trading from a fixed location, such as selling baked goods and other items through ‘Cake Sheds’, should remain within the scope of the policy.

“This is due to the food safety and hygiene implications for sellers and members of the public, as well as monitoring electrical, gas and fire safety.

"The policy has also considered any potential nuisance or annoyance that may be caused to neighbouring residents through sales and, because the goods are made with the intention to sell, ensure fairness between licenced street traders and established premises, and unlicensed traders.

“It is important to note that there can be a large variation in the scale of ‘Cake Sheds’ which can range from simple tables with honesty boxes, to larger operations that sell pre-packaged goods, advertise on social media and accept contactless card payments.

“While the main scope of the policy is directed at larger businesses who wish to trade from a fixed location, there are currently no concessions that can be applied to residents who wish to sell baked goods though ‘cake sheds’. This includes the agreed and updated licensing fees.

“Should a resident wish to be licensed, annual and six-monthly fees are available, with reduced prices for renewals, all with monthly payment options. Lower priced options to trade on one of our markets on a casual basis are also available.

“The selling of eggs, vegetables, or cut flowers are not considered to be part of the policy because they could be deemed to be surplus goods that can arise from normal domestic life, but they will be treated as trading if they become a larger commercial activity.

“Our Licensing Team has been instructed to take a proportionate and pragmatic approach to enforcement based on the individual circumstances.

"Any fines would only result from a successful prosecution in the most serious cases where a trader has persistently sold goods without a license.”