Ice cream vendors at a beauty spot in New Forest have are fighting a ‘cold war’ in a bid to ban an ice cream van ‘stealing their business’.
Businesses are now trying to block the new ice cream van, which received a frosty reception when it started trading two years ago, from renewing its lease.
Independent ice cream parlours and cafes in Lyndhurst, Hampshire complained that footfall and profits had melted away since the arrival of Warren’s Ice Cream.
The company, run by ice cream entrepreneur Warren Dickens, set up shop just yards from Lyndhurst high street, at the car park of beauty spot Bolton’s Bench, a popular spot for visitors to the New Forest National Park.
Tim Laine, who runs Forest Glade Ice Cream parlour on the high street with son Simon, was among business owners calling for the van to be given the cold shoulder.
Mr Laine, 73, told the Verderers Court – an ancient group responsible for the preservation of the New Forest – that Warren’s was making ‘no contribution’ to the local community.
Ice cream parlours and cafes are fighting a ‘cold war’ to stop an ice cream van stealing their business
Warren’s Ice Cream was met by a frosty reception since it arrived in the village of Lyndhurst, New Forest two years ago and is facing opposition to its bid to renew its licence
Tim Laine, who runs Forest Glade ice cream parlour, is among business owners calling for the van’s licence to not be renewed
Mr Laine told the Verderers Court responsible for New Forest that Warren’s was making ‘no contribution’ to the local community
He said: ‘Two years ago the Verderers granted a licence for an ice cream van to trade from the car park at Bolton’s Bench.
‘I am requesting that this is not granted again for the following reasons.
‘The sale of ‘refreshments’ at Bolton’s Bench location adversely affects the footfall into the village, and consequently the turnover of establishments in our village is significantly reduced.
‘This van pays no rates to the local council, doesn’t belong to the local Chamber of Commerce and makes no contribution to the local events and the ‘community’ of Lyndhurst.
‘The van also has its engine running continuously, which is not good for air quality, and Lyndhurst already has a very poor record for air pollution.’
Supporting businesses’ case, Councillor Hilary Brand told the Verderers Court that ‘four businesses have closed in Lyndhurst in the past few months’.
He added that ‘anything that takes people away from the village damages the high street businesses which run various village events for the benefit of residents’.
Speaking today, Mr Laine said an ice cream truck – or any food van – will ‘stop people from going into the village’.
Mr Laine said it’s hard enough to get customers in the door.
He said: ‘We have a strange business model, we open the doors at Easter and stay open through to Halloween, when it gets too cold and wet.
‘We have to make enough through the summer months, it’s always hard work.’
Previously, Sweet Chillies cafe owner David Pearson said it was ‘absolutely ridiculous’ that the van was allowed to operate in the beauty spot.
Warren Dickens, 45, runs 12 ice cream vans in the New Forest and surrounding area.
Today, he said he is within his rights to operate at Bolton’s Bench, having had his licence approved by Forestry England.
He said: ‘I only deal with Forestry Commission, not the Verderers.
‘We pay for the licence.’
Business owners in Lyndhurst, Hampshire complained that Warren’s van didn’t pay rates to the council and was stopping people from visiting the village
Sweet Chillies cafe owner David Pearson said it was ‘absolutely ridiculous’ that the van was allowed to operate in the beauty spot
Warren Dickens operates 12 ice cream vans around New Forest and the surrounding area
Asked what he makes of concerns that his business is hindering footfall on the high street, he said: ‘I don’t really know what to make of that, to be honest.
‘We’re away from the high street, the way I see it.’
The licence is currently up for renewal, with Forestry England set to decide which business takes on the new tender in the coming weeks.
A Forestry England spokeswoman said: ‘A small number of ice cream and refreshment vans have been operating in Forestry England car parks in the New Forest for many years.
‘The vans operate under contract to Forestry England.
‘The funds raised by Forestry England from this goes directly back into caring for the Forest and looking after facilities including car parks that serve the Forest and the local area.’