MAYOR of Kingston Angela Brown Burke told the council yesterday that all entertainment activities planned for the Christmas holidays will require entertainment licences from the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC).

"Persons planning parties, festivals, stage shows, plays, concerts, fish fries must make applications to the KSAC," the mayor warned.

She said that the applications must be made five clear days prior to the event. Advertisements for the entertainment events for the holidays also require the permission of the KSAC and the applications must be made at least five days prior to the events, she said.

Brown Burke warned that events put on without KSAC approval could be shut down.

"We will be actively monitoring the activities to ensure compliance and if they are not approved we will close the events," she warned.

Meanwhile, by a resolution passed at yesterday's council meeting, the KSAC has designated several streets downtown Kingston prescribed vending areas.

However, the KSAC said that traffic (pedestrians and motor vehicles) should be allowed to flow freely on these streets, despite their designation as prescribed vending areas.

The resolution stated that the area known as Open Market West that is bounded by Pechon, Beckford, West and Barry Streets will also be available and appropriate for additional vending spaces and parking, where necessary.

The streets prescribed as vending areas according to the resolution are:

* New Chapel Lane from Beckford Street to Spanish Town Road (ground provision);

* Pechon Street from Beckford Street to Spanish Town Road;

* West Street from West Queen Street to Heywood Street;

* Princess Street from West Queen Street to Heywood Street;

* Luke Lane from West Queen Street to Heywood Street;

* Matthews Lane from Beckford Street to Heywood Treet (eastern sidewalks);

* Heywood Street from Pechon Street to Orange Streetl; and

* Beckford Street from West Street to Darling Street.

According to the resolution, the market district comprises the area bounded on the west on Darling Street, the east on West Street, the north by Spanish Town Road and Heywood Street, and the south by Barry Street.