There are notices on every lamp-post forbidding trading on pain of a £1000 fine. But where was the enforcement?

The problem is that the act that imposes the £1000 fine also exempts anyone who holds a pedlars licence issued by their local police under the Pedlars Act 1871! Unfortunately there are limited grounds for refusing a licence and the definition of "pedlar" is not clear. This makes it difficult and expensive to control the trading. That said, I believe that the traders could and should have been controlled. As mentioned in my original post the organisers are on to this, although EDCC are the only ones with the power to enforce the law.

Busking is even more difficult to control as there is no law specifically preventing it. Obstruction is the usual one.

Bob TB