'All I’m asking for is a chance': Fish and Chip business hopes to sell from van in Hartlepool

An application had been submitted by Phillip Wilson, from Wilson’s Traditional Fish & Chips, for consent to trade from his van at four separate locations a week in Hartlepool.

He said the ‘unique’ business would benefit the communities at the selected locations, especially given restrictions in place due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The application stated he wants to trade from land off Newark Road on Tuesdays, Park Drive on Wednesdays and Osprey Way on Thursdays, all from 3pm to 8pm.

He is also looking to serve from 11am until 8pm at the Front Street lay-by in Greatham on Fridays.

The application went before Hartlepool Borough Council Regulatory Sub-Committee on Tuesday (September 29) and a decision is now expected to be published in the coming days.

However council officers warned at the meeting the application could have a ‘detrimental’ impact on the local area.

Ian Harrison, council licensing manager, said the locations selected for the mobile fish and chip van are inappropriate due to being in or near residential areas.

He said: “In Mr Wilson’s case I believe that a fish and chip van parked in a residential area for up to nine hours a day will lead to issues detrimental to that neighbourhood.

“As licensing manager I support any business that is beneficial to Hartlepool.

“However I believe that the locations proposed by Mr Wilson are simply inappropriate due to their residential nature and would suggest that he looks to trade from more established business locations where there are no residents to be affected and where there is an infrastructure in place to accommodate parking, litter etc.”

Mr Harrison also noted ahead of the meeting the council had endeavoured to work with Mr Wilson, but added he had previously warned him the application would ‘likely lead to refusal’ if it was to go before the committee, to allow him to consider other sites.

Objections had been received by the council via email from residents near to the sites, while council officers also raised concerns over potential litter and noise issues it could cause.

However Mr Wilson, from Greatham, said the ‘unique’ business would bring something new and benefit communities, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said: “We feel as if we are a unique business in Hartlepool, something which has probably never been considered or seen in the streets before, certainly for a number of years.

“We also think there will be a large benefit to the community within all of those areas which we’ve identified.

“Looking at the news and things like that, it looks like a second or a local lockdown is imminent, and those circumstances are stopping people from travelling, going out.

“Us bringing that service to them gives them the opportunity to still enjoy what they used to enjoy.”

He added he is more than happy to put work in to ensure no litter is left behind, and noted council chiefs could grant him consent and review it later if any issues arose.

Mr Wilson said: “I am a proud person of Hartlepool, I don’t like to see litter on the streets. If we were granted those pitches, I’m more than happy to walk around for hours on end to collect as much rubbish as I possibly can if that’s the council’s concern.

“All I’m asking for is a chance. A chance to make my business work, get the business off the ground. ”

He also said he had set up an online petition in support of his application, which has attracted more than 350 signatures, and has support from many residents in the community.

However councillors and council officers raised concerns some signatures were from overseas, including Illinois, New Zealand, the Cayman Islands and France.

The application had been submitted in August by Mr Wilson, with reports ahead of the meeting noting he had requested the hearing be held as soon as possible.

The committee meeting had to be held as all of the proposed trading locations put forward by the applicant are in ‘consent streets’ and, as such, a consent is required to allow trading to take place there, according to council officers.

In addition, before the council may issue trading consent they must be satisfied that the applicant has the agreement and approval of the landowner of any proposed site.

Councillors on the committee will now make a decision on the application, with the decision due to be published in the near future.

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