Lancs council stops Sunday pub sale

Preston Council has told a licensee that he can not hold a car boot sale at his pub because it is within a day's walk of the town centre.

Market traders suggested that Graham Rowson held a Sunday sale in the huge car park of the Saddle Inn in Lea, Lancashire, to give a financial boost to both parties.

When Rowson checked details with the council, he was told it would be illegal to hold a sale as the Daniel Thwaites pub is just four miles from Preston town centre.

A 400-year-old law dictates that no market can be held within six and two-thirds miles of the town — the distance a man can walk to a market, buy his goods and walk back within daylight hours in summer.

"A lot of the pubs around here are closing down," said Rowson. "We want to go forwards, but the council is holding us back. The town market isn't held on Sundays so it wouldn't affect them, and the traders want me to hold a sale to boost their trade.

"It's just a medieval law."

Markets manager Dave Bullock said: "The law doesn't just apply to Preston market, it applies throughout the United Kingdom.

"Some people have said it is antiquated but that is the law of the land to prevent rival markets setting up within a certain distance."

However, Rowson would be able to hold legal charity car boot sales — which he intends to do — but he is only allowed to host four a year, as opposed to the eight regular events he had planned.

He estimated that one event would net him an extra £1,500 a day in food and drink sales, meaning the enforced rule of four a year will cost him around £6,000.