Labour council denies being ‘anti-ice cream' despite van ban plans
The Royal Borough of Greenwich in London wants to ban itinerant ice cream vans from trading in more than 30 roads in the area, including King William Walk, a popular tourist site near the Royal Observatory.
But the plans have faced opposition from the likes of father-of-seven Paul St Hilaire Sr, who has been selling ice creams in the borough for 30 years.
He previously challenged the ban at Bromley magistrates' court, which last August ordered the council to rerun its consultation into the proposals. The case cost taxpayers £52,000.
However, the ban is now expected to shortly be approved at a full council meeting after 16 local organisations and residents vote in favour during the new consultation, with nine opposed.
The council said the restrictions were needed in King William Walk because ice cream queues were blocking the path for pedestrians, particularly causing problems for the elderly, the disabled and those with pushchairs.
Residents have also raised concerns about pollution from the vans, which keep their engines running to power their machines even while at a standstill.
Cllr Pat Slattery, the authority's cabinet member for neighbourhoods, told a recent council meeting: 'I think it is important to say that the council is not anti-ice cream. There are ice cream vendors in a reasonable spit of where this ice cream van regularly parks up.'
Cllr Anthony Okereke, leader of the council, added: 'We are not banning ice creams in Greenwich in any way, shape or form. We do love an ice cream, actually.'
Ban 'ludicrous'
However, Susan Hall, a Conservative London Assembly member, described the ban as 'ludicrous'.
She told The Telegraph: 'The council should rethink this policy. Are they all hell-bent on destroying any fun in Sadiq Khan's London?'
In documents seen by The Telegraph, one local said they feared exhaust fumes were damaging the health of people living nearby, with some ice cream vans keeping their engines running for up to eight hours a day.
Another complained the vans blocked views of the area's World Heritage Site, while also contributing to noise pollution caused by their chimes.
The University of Greenwich was among the groups to support the restrictions. It said King William Walk was an 'unsuitable location' for ice cream vans because of the obstruction caused to traffic and pedestrians, while also warning that they 'affect local businesses'.
Mr St Hilaire Sr has previously accused the council of wanting to 'stop genuine competition'.
He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service last year: 'I've been doing my business for 30 years, I've raised a family. I have all my children that are here working and providing services for the wider community. All I want is to be able to sell my ice cream.'
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