Ice cream firm won’t go softly
AN ice cream company that has traded on Bettystown beach for over 40 years has expressed total frustration at being banned from the beach this summer.
Smith’s Ice Cream has written to all the councillors in Meath, asking why are traders not allowed to operate, if they can prove they are meeting all demands in relation to social distancing.
Beaches in other areas opened from weekend, with traders welcome.
‘It is with deep regret, frustration, and disbelief that we find ourselves writing this letter to you,’ they told councillors. ‘Your recent decision to ban casual trading on Bettystown beach for the 2020 summer season will have a devastating effect on our business in an already very challenging year. We are a local SME, based on the Louth/ Meath border, one of many in our country who employ approximately 70% of the population and contribute approximately 50% turnover to our country’s business economy. We support the local economy directly by employment and indirectly via our purchasing power and we provide a quality safe service to our customers.’
They say COVID-19 has had a huge impact on their business with no concerts, festivals, private bookings, etc and they had envisaged trading on the beach would have assisted ‘in sustaining our business in our effort to keep it afloat.’
‘Many other beaches across the country have last opened and recommenced their casual trading licences. Fingal County Council, to name but one, has issued notification that they will be permitting Casual Trading on all their beaches, Donabate, Portmarnock, Malahide, Rush, Lusk and Skerries this year, commencing on July 13th. If other county councils deem it safe for beach trading during the current pandemic, then why not Meath County Council?
‘ The HSE has advised us that we are approved to operate once we have implemented the Governments COVID-19 guidelines, which we are currently operating. We have Health and Safety
Statements and Risk Assessments in place, updated to cover COVID-19. We are currently operating our ice cream vans all over the housing estates in Co. Meath including Bettystown and Laytown areas. If it is acceptable for us to operate in this way, then why do you deem it not acceptable to operate Casual Trading on Bettystown Beach?’
Other vehicles, for disabled, elderly, emergency vehicles, council vehicles, etc are allowed to use the beach, so the ban on vehicles is not total.
‘Our customers spend only a couple of minutes at the window of our van while being outside in the open air making our business low risk in relation to COVID-19. The HSE, HSA and government deem us safe to operate yet you as councillors disagree with the experts!’