Anger as popular butcher's van stopped from selling meat
RESIDENTS of a Sheffield estate have slammed a council licensing board for blocking a butcher's van from selling 'great value meat'.
Glenn Kitchen, who has done a roaring trade in Low Edges for the last two years, has been refused a licence to trade on a site in Arbourthorne.
A mother-of-three, who lives on the estate, said: "It was great when he first came here. He has a great reputation around Sheffield for serving really good, great value meat.
"The Arbourthorne has no butcher for miles - just shops selling expensive pre-packed meat. The Government is supposed to be encouraging us all to eat healthy and to do this most people need good food at reasonable prices."
Another resident said: "I used to use this van on a regular basis and so did a lot of my friends and family - it was convenient to us and with the current economic crisis we really miss the van being there." Trouble arose after Mr Kitchen started parking his van on Northern Avenue, Arbourthorne, this summer, where he was welcomed by residents and traders but was told he had to apply for a separate licence.
Sheffield Council licensing board refused his application at a meeting Mr Kitchen says he was never told about.
"The first I knew about it was when a courier turned up at my door telling me to sign a piece of paper which said my licence had been refused," he said.
"When I called the council an officer told me I would have been granted my licence if I had turned up, and said it was up to me to find out when the meeting was."
A council spokesman said Mr Kitchen's licence had been refused because they had "received objections from traders" about litter left by customers.
He said Mr Kitchen had been informed of the meeting by telephone - which the butcher strongly denied.
The licensing board also mentioned a past conviction for failing to display sell-by dates on packaged burgers. Mr Kitchen admits he was fined 4,000 by a court, but says he had learned his lesson.
Coun Jack Clarkson, deputy chair of the licensing board, said: "Sheffield Council supports small businesses and, during a tough economic period, it is acknowledged that street trading is a way for small businesses to get started. However, we must stay within the law and the policy of the council."
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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