Stoke Heath mum battles to ban ice-cream vans at schools

[dutchman]

A mum is waging war on traditional ice cream vans selling outside the gates of Coventry primary schools.



Mum-of-two Liz McNab has started an online petition calling for Coventry City Council officials to impose restrictions on the distance ice-cream sellers can park outside primary schools.

The 27-year-old, of Edgar Walk, Stoke Heath, said: “I don’t resent them earning a living but I do resent the way they cash in on pester power.

“It’s unfair on parents trying their best to make sure their children eat healthily.”

Liz said she became aware of the problem when collecting her three-year-old son Samuel from Wyken Children’s Nursery, in the grounds of Wyken Croft Primary School.

She says an ice cream seller always parks his van outside, ready for children to come out at the end of each school day.

She said: “Speaking to parents, I know of at least four other schools where it’s happening so it’s bound to be happening elsewhere too.

“I’m not against ice creams or ice cream sellers just the way it’s so blatant and in your face. They’re literally on the school’s doorstep. I wouldn’t mind so much if they were 50 metres away.

“I let Samuel have an ice cream as a very occasional treat, but I have to say no to him most of the time.

“He doesn’t understand that he can’t have one when he sees other children walking away with huge ice creams.

“I think the council has a responsibilty to do something especially as they invest a lot of money in healthy eating initiatives and restricting fast food outlets so they’re not too close to schools. I think they should do something about this too.”

Liz has written to city council officials about the issue, and has set up an online petition which she plans to present to the council.

A council spokesman said: “Ice cream vans need to be registered and are regularly inspected from a hygiene and food safety point of view but they don’t require a licence to trade.

"They would need permission from the landowner to trade on private land and, like any other vehicle, should not cause a road safety danger where they park.

“We work with schools to promote healthy eating and awareness of what goes into a balanced diet. Any petitions presented to the council are investigated by officers and a report will be considered.”