New York style mobile vendor appeals to councillors

A LONDONDERRY entrepreneur has pleaded with the council to allow him to operate a New York-style mobile hot dog stand until three o'clock in the morning throughout the city centre.

He is arguing that his business will add vibrancy to the city centre's evening economy and that it will provide a service to tourists in the lead up to City of Culture 2013.

Sentinel readers may have spotted Garry Lafferty's roving burger and hotdog stand feeding hungry customers around the town over the past few months.

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He recently applied to the Council for permission to trade as a mobile trader in hot food in the city centre between the hours of 11am 3am.

Council told him it was not normal practice to license hot food vendors as "mobile" due to the set-up and take-down time and the potential nuisance from cooking odours and the potential for objections from existing hot food outlets.

But it was resolved that Mr Lafferty be granted a licence to trade, as a mobile trader, in the city centre until 9pm in accordance with Council's Policy on Licensing Hot Food Vendors for Late Night Trading.

Following the decision Mr Lafferty wrote to the Council appealing to it to allow him open until 3am. He said allowing street vendors to open late was common practice in cities like New York and London and that his business would brighten up the city centre in the run up to City of Culture.

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In a letter to the Council he wrote: "As a result of the anticipated increase in tourism due to Derry becoming the UK City of Culture, I feel that the proposed business will add to the vibrancy and diversity of the City by increasing the amenities available to toursits and residents after 9pm, therefore boosting the evening economy, which is so vital to the success of the City.

"I refer to the document on your web-site by Colin Buchanan and Partners which was commissioned by the Council, and states '...in many respects, the facilities and services in towns and cities continue to adhere to a time regime which is increasingly out of step with the lifestyles and time needs of modern town and city dwellers.'"

He suggested the business would be of benefit to those using Londonderry city centre late at night in the run up to Christmas.

He also stated that his cart was mobile and compact and would not adversely affect the amenity of the area and that he was committed to ensuring that the areas he traded in were kept clean and free of litter.

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"It is common in other major cities to allow similar carts to trade after 9pm. Prime examples of these would include London and New York with various food carts dispersed throughout the city centres," he wrote.

Mr Lafferty also argued his business start-up could be fatally damaged if he was restricted from trading after 9pm.

"Having been unemployed approaching two years now and with a family to support, my biggest fear is that this business may not be financially viable if this restriction to business hours is imposed.

"The success of this business is of deep concern to me as I am risking the family savings on this business venture," he wrote.

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Council officers have suggested Mr Lafferty be restricted from trading in the area covered by the Public Realm Scheme; the Area at Ferryquay Gate on Carlisle Road; East Wall and Newmarket Street; The Diamond; Foyle Street outside the entrance to Foyleside Shopping Centre; William Street from Waterloo Place to the roundabout at Rossville Street.

It was also suggested that if Mr. Lafferty wishes to renew his licence for 2011, he be required to identify a designated location in which he wishes to trade.'

Derry City Council's Environmental Services Committee meeting will consider the matter at a meeting in the Guildhall tomorrow.

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