Litter and location fear sees food van plan rejected

PLANS to sell kebabs, burgers and chips from a trailer have been rejected amid concerns it could lead to litter.

Ali Selcuk applied to the borough council for street trading consent to place and run the burger van north of Prince Regent Avenue in Tommy Taylors Lane.

He told the licensing committee at the Municipal Offices on March 7 that he has worked in the food sector for years and it was a family business.

He said they had a trailer in Bishop’s Cleeve and his family is experienced in street trading. Councillor Simon Wheeler (LD, Hesters Way) raised concerns over how waste would be disposed of and asked what arrangements there would be for staff to use a toilet.

He said: “Obviously you’re going to have to wash your hands, tools etc.

“And more than anything, for a six hour shift your staff are having to go to the toilet at some point. You’re stuck right out in the open there.”

Mr Selcuk explained there would be washing facilities in the trailer and his home is only a three minute walk so he and his family could use the toilet there.

He also said the trailer would have storage for waste and cooking oil would be stored to be collected later. Cllr Richard Pinegar (LD, St Marks) said he was not sure there is a need for a takeaway in the area. “The litter from your customers will then be in the park,” he said.

Mr Selcuk said they would have two “massive” bins at each corner of the van for the public to use. And they would sweep the vicinity of the trailer at the start and end of each shift.

The committee voted to reject the application by five votes against and one in favour due to its unsuitable location.