Park-goers in meltdown over ice cream van

HUNDREDS...AND THOUSANDS CALL FOR LOCAL MAN TO KEEP HIS PITCH

MORE than 4,000 people have now signed a petition for a Dixons ice cream seller to keep his pitch at Beaumont Park.

Gary Redfearn has been selling the Huddersfield-made product in the Huddersfield park for more than 20 years.

But Gary has lost the prime spot after Kirklees Council put it out to tender and a Bradford company beat him to it.

The decision has led to a furious reaction from YorkshireLive readers.

Here are a selection of some of your comments on our Facebook page:

June Cooper said: “What happened to local jobs for local businesses. Bloody hypocrisy at its highest level.”

Serena Smith wrote: “Nothing Kirklees Council do ever makes any bloody sense. Keep it local! Plus it’s simply the best ice cream ever.”

Robert Flockton added: “Nothing like supporting your own during a pandemic, what a disgrace. #BringBackGary.”

Paula Heather said: “I can’t believe

Kirklees Council aren’t supporting a Huddersfield business!!! Shame on them.”

Fiona Bradley posted: “I worked at Dixon’s back in the days, Eddie Dixon was my boss, and both my kids worked for Charlie Dixon and Charlie Cartwright, not only is it a family run business but it’s a little goldmine, my advice to Gary is like everyone says park at the side of the road.”

And Nigel Clarke said: “Kirklees Council ..... Beaumont Park is in Huddersfield and not Bradford, it is our park and it’s for our locals to enjoy! That includes our own local business. Are you blind or deaf?”

Paul Sharland said: “Kirklees again shooting itself in the foot only it knows how. While we are told to support local businesses they get a company from Bradford doing just the opposite, also increasing the carbon footprint from the vans.” This shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone - it’s the idiotic, short-sighted stupidity we all expect from the incompetent council.”

More than 200 people have commented on our Facebook story, with dozens more making their views known on the YorkshireLive website.

You can read and sign the petition at change.org.

Beaumont Park is in Huddersfield and not Bradford, it is our park and it’s for locals to

enjoy