Snowflake health and safety killjoys ban ice cream vans from streets over pollution claims
ICE cream vans will be banned from some streets in a crackdown by health and safety killjoys.
Snowflake council bosses say the engines cause too much air pollution harmful to kids.
Most of them are diesel and they must keep running to power the fridges and machinery.
But critics accused officials of “stealing treats from kids”.
Camden council in North London is to put “No Ice Cream Trading” signs in 40 streets.
Nearby Westminster council will also prevent ice cream sellers operating in some of its roads near schools.
They point out the vans constantly pump out fumes that can stunt the growth of children’s lungs and trigger asthma attacks.
‘THE FUN POLICE’
And London Green Party politician Caroline Russell said: “No one wants to be the fun police or see people lose their businesses. But people don’t want a side order of asthma with their ice cream. This is a serious health issue.”
However, Matthew Lesh, from the Adam Smith Institute think tank, called it a “nasty policy”.
He added: “Councils are stealing kids’ fun afternoon treats across the city. London’s pollution problem won’t be solved by taking a small number of ice cream trucks off a few roads.”
Zelica Carr, of trade body The Ice Cream Alliance, said: “We would encourage councils and other bodies to install electricity power points in parks and other relevant sites so ice cream vans can operate with their engines off.
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“Otherwise, there is a danger of ice cream vans disappearing from our streets altogether — which would be tragic because they are so reminiscent of all our childhoods.”
Mum Vicky Sousa, 38, of Pimlico, Westminster, commented: “If the vans are causing a problem then something needs to be done. I would support banning them from near schools but it has to be a proportionate response.”
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