Plans to ban ice cream vans from operating on a street adjacent to Greenwich Park have led a local councillor to clarify that the local authority does not hold an “anti-ice cream” stance.
The cabinet of Greenwich Council has proposed that King William Walk be designated as an area where ice cream trading is not permitted. This street, located at the north-west corner of the park, was included on a list identifying areas where ice cream sales would be restricted.
However, ice cream vendor Paul St Hilaire Sr successfully contested this decision in court, arguing that the council’s ruling lacked a legal foundation.
As a result, Bromley Magistrates’ Court instructed the council to redo the public consultation and reassess whether King William Walk should be included among the streets where ice cream trading is banned.
A previous report by The Local Democracy Reporting Service, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, disclosed that Greenwich Council spent £52,000 in public funds on legal fees related to the case.
Earlier this year, the council conducted the court-mandated consultation process. During a council cabinet meeting on April 9, it was disclosed that among the 25 responses received from organizations and residents, 16 favored the ban while nine opposed it.
Councillor Pat Slattery, representing the Greenwich Park ward that encompasses King William Walk, expressed her support for the prohibition. She emphasized at the cabinet meeting, “It’s essential to understand that the council is not against ice cream. There are other ice cream vendors reasonably close to where this particular van tends to park.”
At the same meeting, Councillor Jackie Smith pointed out that the council’s authority to restrict itinerant ice cream trading on its streets is based on concerns over preventing traffic obstruction or undue disturbance to pedestrians. She noted, “We have received numerous complaints from residents of King William Walk.”
Interim legal services director Azuka Onuorah informed the council that if the prohibition faced further legal challenges, it would remain enforced pending the resolution of those challenges, granting the council the right to implement enforcement actions.
Before the cabinet’s recommendation for the prohibition on King William Walk was submitted to the full council for approval, council leader Anthony Okereke reiterated, “We are not banning ice cream in Greenwich in any form whatsoever. In fact, we quite enjoy ice cream.”
