Snack van feels bite of bureaucracy after 25 years in spot

Published on Thursday 21 August 2008 10:24

IT has operated without incident for more than 25 years.

But a snack van which has been trading from the same spot at South Gyle Crescent for more than two decades could be forced to close – after a complaint by a council official.

Chargrill Co's application for a renewal of the street trader licence prompted an objection from the services for communities department, which claims no permission has been given for the van to be left on the road outside of trading hours and the unit should be removed from the site each evening.

John Barr, whose mother, Mary, has owned the van for 11 years, said he was stunned.

"We've never had any complaints. The guys who work round here have offered to write stating they have no objections. There has never been an accident or staff injured, but moving the van overnight would put staff at risk."

Mr Barr, 29, is concerned that the hot oil used for cooking in the van could create a safety hazard and that moving the van through busy traffic would be more problematic to other road users than leaving it parked at South Gyle Industrial Estate, which is practically deserted in the evenings.

The family have had the application continued for two months while they seek legal advice on the issue. Mr Barr continued: "We have been told if we have been here more than eight years we can't be forced to move.

"We can apply for planning permission, but it would only be granted for five years and after that it would be put out to tender. We could lose the spot we've been in for all these years, so we're looking for another option."

The family is currently paying fixed position rates to Lothian Joint Valuation Board, and said they had previously been told there was no need to remove the snack van overnight as long as it was kept in a roadworthy condition so it could move in emergencies or for any roadworks.

Mr Barr added: "It's just this one official – he's got a bee in his bonnet. He doesn't have any objection to us staying here at peak hours but he does to us staying here from 8pm-6am, which I find very strange."

Owner Mary Barr, 62, added: "I have had a street trader's licence at South Gyle Crescent for the last 11 years. The snack van I own has been in the same fixed position for over 25 years, and has never moved.

"In my view it seems ridiculous to ask 20-plus snack vans in close vicinity all to move during peak traffic hours.

"Surely this has a greater risk of accidents to the public than to be left stationary."

A council spokeswoman said the application would be considered, along with any objections, when it is brought back to the licensing sub-committee in two months' time.