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Ice cream vans' 15-minute waiting limit in Worcester Ice cream vans' 15-minute waiting limit in Worcester
(35 minutes later)
Ice cream vans must move on after 15 minutes under a council's new rules - despite claims older people who are less quick on their feet may miss out.Ice cream vans must move on after 15 minutes under a council's new rules - despite claims older people who are less quick on their feet may miss out.
Mobile street traders will only be allowed to stay in one spot for up to 30 minutes if a queue forms, Worcester City Council said.Mobile street traders will only be allowed to stay in one spot for up to 30 minutes if a queue forms, Worcester City Council said.
Some responses to a consultation are reported to have been from pensioners "hostile" to the new time limit.Some responses to a consultation are reported to have been from pensioners "hostile" to the new time limit.
The council said it did not believe elderly people would be disadvantaged.The council said it did not believe elderly people would be disadvantaged.
And the Ice Cream Alliance, the trade body for street vendors, said the new rule would be difficult to police.And the Ice Cream Alliance, the trade body for street vendors, said the new rule would be difficult to police.
More on this story, plus other Worcestershire updatesMore on this story, plus other Worcestershire updates
The change was brought in after complaints from street traders holding static licences.The change was brought in after complaints from street traders holding static licences.
Traders were concerned mobile traders were loitering for too long, the council said.Traders were concerned mobile traders were loitering for too long, the council said.
Current restrictions on ice cream street tradersCurrent restrictions on ice cream street traders
- Chimes can only be used between 12:00 and 19:00
- They cannot be louder than 80 decibels or last longer than 12 seconds
- They cannot be played within 50m (165ft) of a hospital, a school when pupils are there, or a place of worship on a recognised day of worship
Source: Defra code of conductSource: Defra code of conduct
A total of 77 people responded to the consultation, including 60 delivered to the council by the holder of a mobile street trading licence.A total of 77 people responded to the consultation, including 60 delivered to the council by the holder of a mobile street trading licence.
Allah Ditta, chairman of the council's licensing and environmental health committee, said the new rules "make no difference to most traders".Allah Ditta, chairman of the council's licensing and environmental health committee, said the new rules "make no difference to most traders".
He said: "The majority of them have established routes and times and would never normally stay in one spot for 30 minutes.He said: "The majority of them have established routes and times and would never normally stay in one spot for 30 minutes.
"We certainly do not expect anyone to struggle to get to a street trader in time - most customers are used to ice cream vans turning up at particular locations and particular times.""We certainly do not expect anyone to struggle to get to a street trader in time - most customers are used to ice cream vans turning up at particular locations and particular times."
Ice Cream Alliance chief executive, Zalika Carr, said: "If you have a queue of people [at an ice cream van], who's going to police the 15 minutes?Ice Cream Alliance chief executive, Zalika Carr, said: "If you have a queue of people [at an ice cream van], who's going to police the 15 minutes?
"Street traders are trying to maximise on the queue of people and they are not going to keep tabs on the time.""Street traders are trying to maximise on the queue of people and they are not going to keep tabs on the time."