AUSTAR representatives spent last week outside the supermarket with a number of people calling into The Advocate saying they were annoyed about being continually stopped by the hawkers.

However, shire spokeswoman Linda Newitt said that while commercial sales outfits were not allowed to operate in the streets AUSTAR was within the Coles precinct and it was up to the store to either stop it or allow it to trade.

Shire chief executive officer Kaylene Conrick said the council supported community organisations and other not -for-profit groups such as emergency service volunteers raising money through raffles and donations.

"We do however regulate the process through a permit system," she said.

"In Daylesford we generally issue permits to about two to four organisations a week and this has not changed lately.

"The vast majority of permits are issued to local groups."

Ms Conrick said that only two organisations were allowed to be in the street at any one time, one on each side.

"Card tables and chairs are permitted but the organisation does need to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act and stay on the kerbside of the footpath," she said.

"They also need to hold public-liability insurance.

"We do not allow any amplification, nor do we permit any commercial sales, so a pay TV company would not be issued with a permit.

"The permit system is enforced by regular officer patrols."

Ms Conrick said if anyone believed a group was operating without a permit they should contact the council's compliance division.

Last week, a Coastguard stall was also selling "scratchies" saying the organisation helped the CFA.

Both the Coastguard and AUSTAR stalls were not positioned on the kerbside of the street.

Recently another stall-holder was raising money for the Paralympian team.

People asking for donations are bussed into the area in the morning, dropped off and collected in the evening. They are paid for their fundraising.

Neither Coles nor AUSTAR returned calls.