Line in the sand? Council set to ban new beach food vans
Council officials are suggesting no new licences be granted for Aberdeen's beachfront due to concerns over a lack of space.
**Line in the sand? Council set to ban new beach food vans**
Aberdeen City Council is preparing to block new food and drink vans from setting up at the city’s beachfront amid concerns over the number of street traders in the area.
A total of 36 businesses are currently allowed to operate there, offering everything from burger and burrito bars to sweet treats.
Among those opposing the plans is a coffee cart, whose owners say the move has ended their hopes of relocating to the area.
More than 30 businesses operate at the seafront area
Recent concerns have been raised about there being too little space for food vans to trade, while some have described the area’s appearance as "unsightly".
Some of the businesses only operate for a day or two each week.
She told BBC Scotland News that she had started the process of applying for a licence to move her cart to the beachfront, only to be informed that the rule change would make that impossible.
"Footfall is just much better up there which is why we want to be in that area," she said.
"I can get why they don't want more and more [businesses] continuously going up there, there is a lot of negativity online about the lack of space for parking now at the beach.
"My frustration is I just feel it needs to be monitored better in a sense of if people are not trading then the trailers really should be getting moved."
She said this could eventually force her business to move elsewhere where footfall is better.
One of the long-established businesses in the area is the Highlander Cafe bus, which has been operating since 2017.
It is run by Samuel Turcu-Georgescu and his son Darius, who said getting the right mix of vans was important.
"If there's too many it is difficult for everyone," Samuel said.
"So, they should sort out what is already here first and if there is a need for more, they can add it after.
"Too many people here are selling the same things, so it is not good for everyone."
Darius suggested that spaces should be freed up when a trader is not operating so others can use them.
"Traders should come when they plan to trade and leave at the end of the day so there is space for everyone else," he said.
Council officers are recommending that permission to occupy the road in the area should not be granted because of ongoing beach improvement works.
They have also proposed changing the council’s street trader policy to extend the presumption against it to the beachfront area.
Renewal applications would still be allowed to continue, however.
Aberdeen City Council has declined to comment before the committee.