Butchers battling council to sell meat from van outside Bristol shopping centre

Mobile butchers are trying to get permission to sell meat from their van outside a shopping centre in a licensing battle with South Gloucestershire Council.

Next Monday councillors will decide if the van can return to Kingswood or if its usual location is causing a public nuisance.

Mark and Steve’s Mobile Butchers used to regularly trade on Regent Street outside the Kings Chase Shopping Centre. But after “licensing issues” the van has been trading elsewhere in the district – including Willowbrook Shopping Centre.

The butchers have applied to the council for a street trading consent, to be formally allowed to sell meat outside the shopping centre from 8am to 3pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. A licensing hearing could grant their application on Monday, January 8.

But a staff member of the street care team, at the council, has objected to the application on the grounds of public nuisance and safety. They said street cleaners can’t get their sweepers around the van.

The council officer said: “I would like to object to the proposed location of this trading unit. The cleansing operative cannot get his sweeping machine around this area, as the unit is very close to other street furniture, therefore restricting access.”

Licensing hearings are usually made up of three councillors, who hear from people applying for licences as well as those objecting. Despite the objection from the street care team, the hearing could still decide to grant the licence, which would allow the van to continue trading.

The Kings Chase Shopping Centre is being given a £5.5-million makeover by the council, as part of a wider project around Kingswood town centre. This includes a new roof, better signs and new street furniture at the shopping centre. Regent Street will also be pedestrianised.