An Arborfield kebab van has been granted permission to trade from a new location – but only subject to planning permission being granted
Bilal Boztepe, who has been described as a “pillar of the community”, had applied for a new street trading licence on land south of Baird Road, Arborfield, after being moved on from the Royal British Legion on Eversley Road by its new landlord.
Having traded for 14 years, Mr Boztepe bought the land off Baird Road in a bid to stay operating.
A Wokingham Borough Council Licensing and Appeals Hearings sub committee met on October 23 to decide whether to grant the new application.
While 31 objections were raised by residents, 51 people wrote in favour of his application. A petition in support of the takeaway van had also been signed by 746 people.
One of his supporters appeared at the sub committee hearing, while another neighbour appeared to object, raising concerns about the impact on traffic on the surrounding roads.
The meeting heard how Baird Road has faced more traffic, littering and anti-social behaviour since the opening of a Co-op food store.
Ward member for Evendons West, councillor Adrian Betteridge, said he considered the proposed new location could ‘exacerbate’ these ‘existing issues’.
He added the applicant has a ‘good reputation with many in the community’, and that he supports the continued trade, but in a different location.
The applicant said he had plans to create a permanent car park on the land, which would create “.. a more organised parking solution”.
He said there would also be “.. nowhere near as much traffic’ at the new site – with an estimated five cars every hour – compared with more than 50 cars at the British Legion site.”
Mr Boztepe said he was willing to open later and close earlier to appease neighbours, with the van removed from the site overnight.
Lighting, CCTV and multiple bins would also be introduced to minimise antisocial behaviour and littering.
A neighbour said she had had “first hand” experience of anti-social behaviour, and that she considered by allowing the van the new plot it would get ‘so much worse’.
Another neighbour said that it was “.. absolutely not the right place to put the van”.
Despite concerns raised, the licensing subcommittee decided to grant the new trading licence subject to planning permission being granted for the new location.
This was also granted on the condition that trading must stop at 11pm.
