Wheels in motion for return of Hempsted Meadows car boot sales

City councillors at their cabinet meeting on Wednesday, February 8, are due to give the green light to offering a licence to use the site for a regular car boot sale.

Operators will be invited to submit a business plan and set out how they will manage the land during car boot sales, meet planning conditions and provide amenities for the public, as well as marshalling events, and dealing with waste or fly-tipping.

The site which is around three acres is limited in its uses due to being prone to flooding and can only be used during good weather.

It is best suited for temporary uses as it can’t be developed due to the instability of the ground and it needs regular maintenance by the council.  

Applicants will be required to allow other organisers to use the land, which can be used for a number of events at any one time and regularly attracts among others a circus, fair and open-air cinema.

The licence will be marketed through an agent and will be reviewed regularly.

Councillor Andy Lewis, cabinet member for Culture and Leisure, said: “We know that car boot sales are very popular locally and a great way of recycling and reusing, which as a council that’s committed to addressing climate change, we wholeheartedly endorse. I would urge anyone who is interested in running a car boot sale to apply.”