An unlicensed burger van parked up in the centre of Burnham-On-Sea angered traders by pinching their trade during the town’s fireworks display on Sunday evening (Sunday, November 8th).
Police were called to Pier Street, as pictured below, after the unlicensed van selling burgers and carvery rolls, set up shop on a taxi rank in Pier Street outside Morrisons, just opposite Fortes cafe.
Within minutes, a long line of customers was buying snacks from the van during the extended run-up to the start of the fireworks, pinching customers from Fortes, which had stayed open especially late.
Debbie Green from Fortes told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “It’s outrageous that an unlicensed food trader like this should have been able to stop outside our cafe, parking illegally, and then sell food to hundreds of customers.”
“We’re not happy and want tighter regulations and enforcement in place. We pay business rates all year round while this trader puts nothing into the community and yet benefits from one of the busiest nights of the year.”
Although the Town Council had not issued a licence to the trader, town councillors and the Town Clerk were powerless to move the vehicle.
Town Clerk Eileen Shaw told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We hadn’t given permission anyone to trade from the taxi rank. After speaking to the trader, I left it in the hands of the police.”
Police officers approached the owner of the van, but he refused to move until the end of the fireworks.
