With reference to the street market held on 27 September, please would you tell me
1. If the application for the road closure was received by you more than three months prior to 27 September, in accordance with your requirements.
An application was received on 18/07/2025. It is at the County Council’s discretion whether an application is processed if received inside the three-month period.
2. How many representations from affected residents were noted on the application, and the nature of those representations.
Representations are not always recorded on the application form. An amended application was received on 01/09/2025 in which the applicant identified consultation to take place with “All local town centre businesses & residents affected.”
3. Whether Secretary of State approval was obtained (this being the fourth closure of Fore Street in 2025) and if the Secretary of State was notified of affected resident representations.
Secretary of State approval was granted on 11th September 2025.
4. If you aware there has been no consultation with affected residents (we believe there being no such consultation) how does this affect your approval process and your submission to the Secretary of State?
If you are able to send us copies of the relevant documents, that may help us see how the process is working. Our main concerns are on the future and the number of closures of Fore Street in 2026 and beyond. It has been suggested that there may be monthly street events and consequently monthly road closures.
Please refer to the answer at (3). The event organiser is responsible for consultation
Please would you also tell us:
1. In relation to future road closures how will the council ensure there has been adequate consultation with affected residents?
While it is not required that every person is to be notified, if evidence exists that consultation is not being carried out as indicated in the application, the County Council can seek evidence to substantiate it from the event organiser if appropriate.
2. At what stage does a monthly street event stop being a ‘special event’, but becomes a regular event / change of use of the road and perhaps falls under different legislation?
Occurrences on the Highway unrelated to road works is considered a Special Event and can be held regularly. The County Council is not currently processing applications for regular closures of Fore Street, Bovey Tracey.