Council defend ban on Lough Lannagh coffee stall

MAYO County Council has defended their decision to prohibit the operation of a coffee stall at Lough Lannagh in Castlebar.

This has come on foot of calls from general election candidate Harry Barrett, who has said that it ‘beggars belief’ that local bylaws can prohibit traders from setting up in the location.

The former Labour town councillor has said that people had approached him asking why a coffee dock could not be installed at Lough Lannagh.

In a response to a query from The Mayo News, Mayo County Council explained that the existing casual training byelaws for Castlebar were adopted by Castlebar Municipal District in 2020 following public consultation.

This identified three areas for casual trading were identified: Hopkins Road Car Park, Market Square Plaza and Castle Lane (Collectors Lane) under the Casual Trading Act 1995 and the Local Government Act 2001.

The act bestows Mayo County Council with the authority to control, regulate, supervise and administer casual trading in its jurisdiction.

“Casual trading at these locations promote the retail centre of the town and limit trading in remote areas that could potentially impact on the retail centre and existing businesses,” added a council spokesperson.

Harry Barrett has called on the existing bylaws to be revisited, saying that he had seen similar mobile coffee docks in locations around the country.

 “These have operated very successfully, without issues.  So it beggars belief that Mayo County Council would stand in the way of a local trader wanting to sell coffee at this location as there are no issues,” said Mr Barrett.

“I would ask Mayo County Council to look at this again. Many people tell me that they would love to finish their walk with a fresh cup of coffee with a friend and they cannot understand why this is banned at this location.”