West Suffolk Council has the following markets: Bury St Edmunds, Haverhill, Newmarket, Brandon, Mildenhall for Provisions Markets

Here is the Council’s response to our Freedom of Information request:

Q: Do you allow stall holders at your markets to sell real fur? (including small items such as knitted hats with fur bobbles, or key rings with fur trims etc.

A:   Yes

The Council allows the sale of fur. They have refused to even consider our fur free markets policy.

Real fur is cruel and unnecessary. Please urge the Council to ban the sale of real fur on their markets and join the official Fur Free Markets scheme by contacting Councillor Peter Stevens, Cabinet Member for Operations, email:  peter.stevens@westsuffolk.gov.uk and Councillor Robert Everitt, Cabinet Member for Families and Communities, email: robert.everitt@westsuffolk.gov.uk 

Newtown Town Council has the following markets: A regular Tuesday Charter Market and an annual Food Festival

Here is the Council’s response to our Freedom of Information request:

Q: Do you allow stall holders at your markets to sell real fur? (including small items such as knitted hats with fur bobbles, or key rings with fur trims etc.

A:   We do not have a policy that specifically states the sale of real fur, we do however have a policy that states :

“The Council will not permit the sale of any illegal, dangerous, or inappropriate products. The following, non-exhaustive, list of products, or product groups, is prohibited from sale at Newtown Charter Market;

 Guns, Replica Guns, Ornamental Swords and Knives (Except Kitchen Knives & Cutlery), Laser pens, Live Animals, Fireworks, Counterfeit Goods, Illegally Copied Videos, CD’s, DVD’s, MP3 disks & Computer Games, Drugs, Drug Related Products or Items Promoting the Taking of Drugs (inc. Legal Highs), Inappropriate or Offensive Products as deemed by Market Management

The Council reserves the right to amend the above list of products or product groups at any time.”

We sought clarification from the council if this would mean they would prevent the sale of real fur and they stated:

This would be a political decision that the Economy and Environment Committee  would have to consider on a case by case basis.

The Council allows the sale of fur. They did not respond to our offer to send information on our Fur Free Markets scheme.

Real fur is cruel and unnecessary. Please urge the Council to ban the sale of real fur on their markets and adopt the official Fur Free Markets policy by contacting Cllr Richard Edwards,  Chair of Economy and Environment Committee , email: richard.edwards@newtown.org.uk  

Pendle Borough Council have advised us that:

Pendle Councils markets are run by a private company, as the councils Property Services and Asset Management Department was out sourced in 2005 as part of a large Private/public Partnership.

However, there are a number of Markets advertised on the Council’s website along with forms for traders to apply for stalls.  We have sought clarification from Pendle Council and await a response.

This council has advised us that they have no responsibility for trading stalls at markets or other events.

However, they also stated:

It is not a question of ‘allowing’ stall holders to sell these items. There is no legal basis to stop them.

And:

Your offer of a recommended form of words is not accepted. There would be no possibility of the Licensing Committee imposing such conditions.

We have sought clarification from them on several occasions without response.

Shepway District Council has the following markets: Folkestone Town Centre

Here is the Council’s response to our Freedom of Information request:

Q: Do you allow stall holders at your markets to sell real fur?

A:   we specify which items traders can sell and to date I’m not aware that we’ve ever been asked if they could sell real fur. Generally they sell food, plants, DVDs or ladies clothing/suitcases, certainly no ‘luxury’ goods or high-end expensive items.

The Council allows the sale of fur.

Real fur is cruel and unnecessary. Please urge the Council to ban the sale of real fur on their markets and adopt the official Fur Free Markets policy by contacting Councillor Clive Goddard, Chair of Planning and Licensing Committee, email: clive.goddard@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk

Crewe Town Council has the following markets: ad hoc occasional events.

Here is the Council’s response to our Freedom of Information request:

Q: Do you allow stall holders at your markets to sell real fur? (including small items such as knitted hats with fur bobbles, or key rings with fur trims etc.

A:  There is no policy on this.

The Council allows the sale of fur.

Real fur is cruel and unnecessary. Please urge the Council to ban the sale of real fur on their markets and adopt the official Fur Free Markets policy by contacting Cllr P Minshall, Chair of Town Development Committee, email: cllr.b-minshall@crewetowncouncil.gov.uk

Thurrock Council has the following markets:  Grays Town Centre market is currently operated by Geraud Market Management Ltd.  South Ockendon market is managed by the council’s Housing Department.

Here is the Council’s response to our Freedom of Information request:

Q: Do you allow stall holders at your markets to sell real fur? (including small items such as knitted hats with fur bobbles, or key rings with fur trims etc.

A:   There are no formal processes around monitoring this

The Council allows the sale of fur. They did not respond to our offer to provide our recommended policy wording.
Real fur is cruel and unnecessary. Please urge the Council to ban the sale of real fur on their markets and adopt the official Fur Free Markets policy by contacting Cllr Gledhill, Leader of the Council, email: rgledhill@thurrock.gov.uk. and Cllr Coxshall, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, email:mcoxshall@thurrock.gov.uk

Stafford Borough Council has the following markets: Stone Farmers’ Market, Stafford Farmers’ Market, Stafford Wednesday Market, Victorian Christmas Market, St. Johns Indoor Market, Stafford Cheese and Ale Festival, Staffordshire Day Market, Stafford Makers Market, Stafford Christmas Market.

Here is the Council’s response to our Freedom of Information request:

Q: Do you allow stall holders at your markets to sell real fur? (including small items such as knitted hats with fur bobbles, or key rings with fur trims etc.

A:  Although there is no policy/charter, traders are required to comply with the law in relation to the sale of fur, and custom and practice has developed in our permanent   markets to discourage the sales of fur.

Several attempts have been made to clarify the above information without success.

The Council allows the sale of fur. They have refused to even consider our Fur Free Markets policy.

Real fur is cruel and unnecessary. Please urge the Council to ban the sale of real fur on their markets and adopt the official Fur Free Markets policy by contacting Cllr F Beatty, Economic Development and Planning Portfolio, email: fbeatty@staffordbc.gov.uk

Spelthorne Borough Council has the following markets: Staines Market – Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, Staines upon Thames Day (June)

Here is the Council’s response to our Freedom of Information request:

Q: Do you allow stall holders at your markets to sell real fur? (including small items such as knitted hats with fur bobbles, or key rings with fur trims etc.

A:   Yes

The Council allows the sale of fur. They have refused to even consider our Fur Free Markets policy.

Real fur is cruel and unnecessary. Please urge the Council to ban the sale of real fur on their markets and adopt the official Fur Free Markets policy by contacting Councillor Nick Gething, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Compliance, email: cllr.gething@spelthorne.gov.uk.

South Lanarkshire Council has the following markets:  Christmas events each year and in Lanark there is a Christmas market.

Here is the Council’s response to our Freedom of Information request:

Q: Do you allow stall holders at your markets to sell real fur? (including small items such as knitted hats with fur bobbles, or key rings with fur trims etc.

A:   The Council does not have a policy on whether or not to sell real fur at markets

The Council allows the sale of fur.

Real fur is cruel and unnecessary. Please urge the Council to ban the sale of real fur on their markets and adopt the official Fur Free Markets policy by contacting John Ross, Leader of the Council, email: johnm.ross@southlanarkshire.gov.uk

South Hams District Council has the following markets: Totnes, Ivybridge, and Kingsbridge

Here is the Council’s response to our Freedom of Information request:

Q: Do you allow stall holders at your markets to sell real fur? (including small items such as knitted hats with fur bobbles, or key rings with fur trims etc.

A:  We do have stall holders who sell sheepskins and sheepskin slippers and vintage clothing which may from time to time include real fur.

The Council allows the sale of fur.

Real fur is cruel and unnecessary. Please urge the Council to ban the sale of real fur on their markets and adopt the official Fur Free Markets policy by contacting Councillor David May, Chair of Licensing Committee, email: Cllr.May@southhams.gov.uk

Scottish Borders Council has the following markets: Hawick Market and Peebles Market.

Scottish Borders Council do not actually run any Markets but we do own and leases two market sites to Market Operators who run the Markets themselves.

Here is the Council’s response to our Freedom of Information request:

Q: Do you allow stall holders at your markets to sell real fur? (including small items such as knitted hats with fur bobbles, or key rings with fur trims etc.

A:  Nothing specific in the Lease Terms. The tenants are required to obtain a Market Operators Licence as part of the lease.
The Council allows the sale of fur. They have refused to even consider our Fur Free Policy.

Real fur is cruel and unnecessary. Please urge the Council to ban the sale of real fur on their markets and adopt the official Fur Free Markets policy by contacting Cllr Aitchison, Neighbourhoods and Locality Services Executive Member, email: saitchison@scotborders.gov.uk

Royal Borough of Kensington and ChelseaCouncil has the following markets: Portobello Road, Golborne Road.

South Kensington Farmers Market (Saturdays) (Bute Street) managed by LFM.

Here is the Council’s response to our Freedom of Information request:

Q: Do you allow stall holders at your markets to sell real fur? (including small items such as knitted hats with fur bobbles, or key rings with fur trims etc.

A:  Yes

The Council allows the sale of fur.

Real fur is cruel and unnecessary. Please urge the Council to ban the sale of real fur on their markets and adopt the official Fur Free Markets policy by contacting Cllr Will Pascall, email: Cllr.Pascall@rbkc.gov.uk

Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council has the following markets:

Aberdare Festival, Big Welsh Bite, Tonypandy Christmas Event, Porth Christmas Event, Treorchy Christmas Event and Aberdare Christmas Event.  We also have two open air markets that trade weekly, however these are fully managed by M & B Markets under a Licence Agreement with the Council.  There is no reference to the selling of fur goods within the Licence Agreement.

Here is the Council’s response to our Freedom of Information request:

Q: Do you allow stall holders at your markets to sell real fur? (including small items such as knitted hats with fur bobbles, or key rings with fur trims etc.

A:  No information held on this matter.

The Council allows the sale of fur.

Real fur is cruel and unnecessary. Please urge the Council to ban the sale of real fur on their markets and adopt the official Fur Free Markets policy by contacting

Councillor Robert Bevan,Cabinet Member for Enterprise, Development & Housing, email: Robert.Bevan@rctcbc.gov.uk

Medway Council has the following markets: Gillingham, Kent-Monday and Saturday, Strood, Kent-Tuesday and Saturday, Rochester, Kent- Monthly Farmers Market every third Sunday of the month

Festivals within the borough of Medway are managed by Medway Councils Events team.

Other events such as boot fairs, community events and Artisan Markets are managed through private organisers outside of the Local Authority.

Here is the Council’s response to our Freedom of Information request:

Q: Do you allow stall holders at your markets to sell real fur? (including small items such as knitted hats with fur bobbles, or key rings with fur trims etc.

A: In terms of animal fur as decorative flourishes, Medway Council makes the traders comply with the Textile Products (labelling and fibre composition)Regulations 2016 to have the products appropriately labelled. If traders fail to do this then a trader can commit a criminal offence. This approach is further enforced by stating that the failure to disclose the presence of fur is a potential criminal offence under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.  Furthermore the approach is solely based on the application of the legislation covering the description of the product and not the morality of their placement in the market place.

The Council allows the sale of fur.

Real fur is cruel and unnecessary. Please urge the Council to ban the sale of real fur on their markets and adopt the official Fur Free Markets policy by contacting Cllr Mrs Jane Chitty, Portfolio Holder for Planning, Economic Growth and Regulation, email: jane.chitty@medway.gov.uk

East Hertforshire Council has the following markets: Ware Retail Market, Hertford Retail Market.

Here is the Council’s response to our Freedom of Information request:

Q: Do you allow stall holders at your markets to sell real fur? (including small items such as knitted hats with fur bobbles, or key rings with fur trims etc.

A:  Eastherts council currently do not have a policy in place for the sale of fur at our markets and as far as we are aware none of our current stallholders sell any fur related product

The Council allows the sale of fur.

Real fur is cruel and unnecessary. Please urge the Council to ban the sale of real fur on their markets and adopt the official Fur Free Markets policy by contacting Councillor Gary Jones, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Economic Development, email: gary.jones@eastherts.gov.uk

Crawley Borough Council has the following markets: Crawley Town Centre Market

Here is the Council’s response to our Freedom of Information request:

Q: Do you allow stall holders at your markets to sell real fur? (including small items such as knitted hats with fur bobbles, or key rings with fur trims etc.

A:  Crawley Borough Council  does not have a policy for the sale of fur

The Council allows the sale of fur. 

Real fur is cruel and unnecessary. Please urge the Council to ban the sale of real fur on their markets and adopt the official Fur Free Markets policy by contacting Councillor Peter Smith , Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development, email: peter.smith@crawley.gov.uk .

London Borough of Barnet Council has the following markets: Property Services lease land to is North Finchley Market, Lodge Lane N12

Here is the Council’s response to our Freedom of Information request:

Q: Do you allow stall holders at your markets to sell real fur? (including small items such as knitted hats with fur bobbles, or key rings with fur trims etc.

A: Yes

The Council allows the sale of fur.

Real fur is cruel and unnecessary. Please urge the Council to ban the sale of real fur on their markets and adopt the official Fur Free Markets policy by contacting Cllr Dean Cohen,  Environment Committee Chair, email:  cllr.d.cohen@barnet.gov.uk

We have now received a partial response but have requested clarification and completion of our FOI request.

We have now received a partial response but have requested clarification and completion of our FOI request.