AN ICE cream seller’s request for permission to drive their van around the whole of Wychavon has raised several objections from councils.

Applicant Sam Grosvenor wants to sell ice cream and sweets from their van throughout Wychavon but some parish councils have objected saying there are already enough ice cream sellers.

The plans were sent to all of the town and parish councils across Wychavon asking councillors if they wanted any areas removed from the prospective licence.

Cllr Nigel Robinson, who represents Broadway on Wychavon District Council, objected to the granting of the licence for several streets in the district as he wanted to protect existing ice cream sellers in the area and “preserve the character” of Broadway’s conservation area and the area of natural beauty.

He said: “I will oppose the applicant trading in any location on Broadway High Street, any of the car parks and any roads adjacent to the High Street like Back Lane, Church Street and Station Road.

“As you are well aware Broadway is a very attractive village, a destination for visitors from all over the world and an ice cream van would be inappropriate. Also there are numerous businesses selling ice cream who already cater for the visitors.”

Pershore Town Council and Hindlip, Martin Hussingtree and Salwarpe Parish Council also objected to the licence application.

Hindlip, Martin Hussingtree and Salwarpe Parish Council said allowing an ice cream van to ply for trade on a number of roads in the parishes would be dangerous and cause extra congestion.

A number of diversion routes and road closures are in place throughout the parishes for at least year, because of Persimmon and Redrow’s major housing development off Copcut Lane and Pulley Lane in Droitwich, and the parish council said an ice cream van parked in any of the roads in a diversion route would cause congestion and pose a threat to public safety.

The parish council requested Hindlip, Martin Hussingtree and Salwarpe are all removed from the prospective licence for safety reasons until at least 2020.

Pershore Town Council said councillors did not support granting the licence.

The council also said there are already enough ‘established’ ice cream sellers in Salwarpe particularly with Churchfields Farm nearby.

The proposed trading hours for the ice cream van would be 4pm to 7pm on Tuesday, 5pm to 7pm on Thursday and 7pm to 10pm on Saturday.

Wychavon District Council’s licensing committee meets next Wednesday (September 11) to make a decision.