The Whitestrand hair braiders have been granted a “formal trading licence” by South Hams District Council, despite opposition from the town council and local traders.

Councillors are frustrated at the location where the braiders work at the entrance to Whitestrand car park - a space owned by the district council. They say this obstructs the entrance to Whitestrand, the loading bay and causes children to queue in the road.

The braiders recently handed in a petition to SHDC in support of their work, with 250 signatures (but no addresses), claiming historical rights to continue trading at Whitestrand.

But town mayor Cllr Mike Fice said: “We think they’re in the wrong place, in a loading area where children mill around. We’re also concerned about the impact on other businesses, with them competing for visitors’ cash without paying all-year-round business rates.”

SHDC have recently moved two bicycle racks, making space for the braiders.

At Salcombe Town Council’s meeting last week, Cllr Fice asked the town’s district councillors Judy Pearce and Simon Wright how much the hair braiders are charged for their licence, while Cllr Tony Lang asked how this charge compares with all-year-round business rates.

Deputy mayor Cllr Nikki Turton said: “Traders are losing income and there is nowhere for people to park their bikes.” Cllr Turton also asked whether the braiders have public liability insurance and disclosure and barring service checks.

A spokesman from South Hams District Council said: “Hair braiders have been operating in Salcombe for the past 14 years and an agreement was recently reached to formalise a trading licence between them and SHDC.

“As part of their licence, the braiders will operate during school holidays and they have the appropriate public liability insurance cover. A DBS check is not something that we would undertake as they are not our employees.”Ward member for Salcombe, Cllr Simon Wright said: “Following  concerns being raised by the town council we have taken a number of measures to reduce the impact on the street scene. “They have operated for a number of years and are clearly very popular with visitors. The issuing of a licence starts to provide the authority with a degree of control. We are now able to monitor the concerns raised by the town council and work towards an amicable solution.”