TWO traders were refused a licence to sell groceries on the street.

Kirklees councillors yesterday refused Abid Hussain permission to sell fruit and vegetables at various locations in Fartown, Lockwood and Crosland Moor.

And Yasin Patel was refused permission to sell fresh fish on a Batley street.

Kirklees Council’s Regulatory Panel members were told both men had been trading unlicensed.

Abid Hussain needed a street trader’s licence for his moveable market plan, which he wanted to run from 10am until 7pm, Monday to Friday.

He was seeking permission to sell from his transit van on a route from Fartown to Crosland Moor.

The intended route was: Honoria Street, Norwood Road, Thomas Road, Bentley Street, Devonshire Street, Ellison Street, Walpole Road, Ivy Street, Wellfield Road, Seagrave Road and Romany Avenue.

In Mr Hussain’s case, the Oldham trader told the panel he wanted to trade in Huddersfield because there was less competition.

Though an interpreter, Mr Hussain said: “There are a lot of people doing this in Oldham and Rochdale, where I worked.

“I have friends and relatives telling me to come here.”

Mr Hussain said he hasn’t renewed his licence to trade in Rochdale.

Councillors heard that Mr Hussain was approached by a Kirklees officer who saw him, but Mr Hussain denied trading and told the committee he was showing his cousin his trading van.

Kirklees Highways and West Yorkshire Police objected to the application on the grounds of safety issues.

The committee refused the application.

Yasin Patel was also seeking a licence to trade on Oxford Street in Batley.

Mr Patel, from Blackburn, had the support of MP and former Home Secretary Jack Straw, who wrote a letter of support on his behalf.

But the Panel were told he too had been trading without a licence.

Through a representative, Mustafa Dayaji, Mr Patel said: “Councillors are concerned he would impact on the two shops locally which sell fish. Both of them only sell one type of fish on a Monday. We wouldn’t be selling fish when they do.”

Chair of the Panel, Clr Mumtaz Hussain, said he shopped in the two shops and they sold a variety of fish all week.

Mr Patel said: “I just want to work and earn a decent living. This won’t make me a rich man, but I want to work.”

Already a Blackburn trader, Mr Patel said he buys fresh fish in Fleetwood at 1am and then sells it in his home town and in Bradford.

He gained business in Batley after dropping leaflets off and also delivers fish if booking are made.

Kirklees Highways, West Yorkshire Police and ward councillors raised objections.

Councillors voted to refuse Mr Patel’s application. He can continue to deliver fish if it’s been pre-ordered.