Shrewsbury car boot sales to need licence?

Car boot organisers could have to apply for a licence to hold events in Shrewsbury if a 12th century charter is adopted into modern policy.

Shrewsbury Town Council is looking at whether people running the sales should have to have a licence.

The authority wants to protect the medieval charter and bring it into the modern age by adopting it into policy.

The charter allows market-style events to be held within "six and two thirds of a mile" of Shrewsbury centre - the distance it was believed a farmer could walk with his goods and back in a day in medieval times.

Councillors will be discussing whether to adopt the charter at their full council meeting on Monday.

Helen Ball, town council clerk, said: "We have sole rights to operate a market within the town of Shrewsbury. We have the right to licence permission for any market that could rival the existing market, which the town council runs, and we are preparing policy that will allow us to do that.

"It will protect traders because one of the key things about the market is it is vital it is a viable trading centre."

Recent changes to EU legislation meant it was important to protect the charter rights of the town.

"School fairs won't be classed as markets but it could stop rival markets being set up that conflict with the interests of the market that already exists in the town," she said.

Any new licence requirement will be publicised by the council.