Food van boss has no place to go

Mar 9 2008 by Ian Robson, Sunday Sun

MOBILE caterer Paul Griggs may have had his chips after council officials left him with no plaice to go.

Paul, who runs a fish and chip van, has been repeatedly ordered to stop frying by officials from North Tyneside Council.

Paul claims he has the backing of most local people. However, the council say he is breaching planning regulations and posing a danger to residents at Seaton Burn.

And it claims his van encourages nearby schoolchildren to eat fast food instead of balanced school meals during lunchtimes.

Paul said: “I was trading from the car park at the Moor House pub without any problems.

“Then the council came and told the landlord he had to apply for planning permission or get fined. They said it was a change of use to selling hot food. Bear in mind that I was there for 90 minutes a day and took up one car space.

“I have a lot of support among pensioners but three people who live in the houses nearby said the van was smelly. I have had loads of hassle from the council.”

Paul, of Killingworth, North Tyneside, said he moved his van to a spot nearby but was moved on again. And, when he tried a third patch, he was still told to up sticks.

Danny Wheatley, landlord of the Moor House, said he liked having Paul around.

He said: “I didn’t get any money off him but I was happy to let him trade until the council said I had to apply for change of use. To be honest I didn’t want the hassle.

“The minority in the area don’t want him but the majority don’t mind.”

A spokeswoman for the council said they were imposing guidelines.

She said: North Tyneside Council is following national planning guidelines in seeking co-operation from this business to protect the amenity of residents and safety of highway users.

“Investigations were carried out following complaints from residents in relation to the mobile catering business.

“These established that a change of use had occurred but no planning permission had been obtained, therefore the operator was in breach of planning control.

“Mr Griggs has continued to operate from various locations in breach of planning control, resulting in further complaints from local residents.

“Despite subsequent refusal of his planning application to operate from another site in the area, Mr Griggs continues to operate from various parcels of land and the highway in order to attract lunchtime trade from local school children.

“His location is often hazardous to highway users and detrimental to the amenity of nearby residents.”