Ice cream vendor told to get on his trike

AN ice cream vendor was told to remove his trike from the end of Londonderry’s Peace Bridge on a number of occassions last month because it had not been licenced.

Derry City Council received complaints from members of the public in relation to obstruction of the cycle path and the end of the bridge due to the presence of trikes.

According to a report from the Acting Town Clerk to the local authority’s Environmental Services, Mr Charles Coyle, of Earhart Park, applied for the grant of a licence to trade at the end of the bridge.

Mr Coyle’s application was for an Ice Cream Trike intended for the end of the Peace Bridge where another ice cream vendor has been operating an ice cream trike since the bridge opened.

The report stated: “Mr Coyle had to be told to remove his trike from the end of the bridge on a number of occasions during July/August because it had not been licensed and it was felt to be inappropriate to request that the application be approved under delegated authority in view of the complaints received in relation to obstruction of the cycle path and the end of the bridge due to the presence of these trikes.

“Complaints have been received from individuals and from Sustrans. Sustrans and residents of Browning Drive have also complained about ice cream vans which park outside the entrance to the Ebrington Site to get people walking to or from the bridge.”

According to the Council these traders are licensed as “mobile” traders and as such are not entitled to occupy a stationary position on an almost daily basis.

“The existing licensed trike was licensed for use in the ‘City Centre,’ and I feel that, in future, applicants for ‘mobile’ licences should be required to specify the locations at which they wish to trade more specifically and that Council should restrict mobile ice cream vendors from trading in areas where trading has been the cause of complaints; or within a distance of, say, 50 metres from any shop selling ice cream; or another licensed ice cream seller.”

A decision on the matter has been deferred until next month.