Council launches BIZARRE plot to tackle anti-social behaviour… by banning CHEESE TOASTIES
A COUNCIL is fighting anti-social behaviour in a park by banning the sale – of cheese TOASTIES.
Councillors have agreed to grant a provisional licence to a van which sells cold food, such as ice cream, and drinks in Monks Park, Bristol.
But the food van's favoured cheese toasties, have been banned – over fears they could attract booze-fuelled antisocial behaviour and motorbike gangs.
The vendor is banned from selling hot snacks following dozens of objections from residents, a ward councillor and the headteacher of a nearby secondary school.
The park has been plagued by gangs of motorcycle-riding youths "terrorising" families in the past - and late-night drunken disturbances.
Nearby residents feared a hot food van could become a magnet for antisocial behaviour.
Claire Hiscott, councillor for the Horfield area of the city, said the van could "lure" secondary school pupils into skiving.
She said: "It's right next to Orchard School, which is a challenging school that sometimes has a problem with keeping kids in school.
"They have to have patrols of staff to make sure kids don't walk off site. The lure of a food concession may encourage kids to take a little walk.
"The school has made a lot of effort to encourage healthy eating. We have problems with childhood obesity.
"Historically we had antisocial behaviour, not just motorbikes, from young adults gathering with alcohol and causing a disturbance.
"Anything that's going to be a gathering place is likely to bring that back. We've managed to eradicate that. It's a nice quiet park."
One resident who objected to the food van wrote: "We have had motorcycle problems with youths terrorising young families."
Planning and development officer Sue Long told the meeting: "We're very mindful of what will work within a park.
"We're looking to replicate coffee and ice cream rather than a burger or chips van. That's not something we would consider.”
Members granted permission at a meeting yesterday (Tues) on the grounds the vendor does not sell hot food and operates between 9am and 6pm.
Councillor Richard Eddy said the conditions "meet a lot of the public's concerns".