Have you seen an ice cream van recently? Didn’t think so…
Its sad how things gradually drift out of fashion. And as is often the case, local authorities get the blame for a large part of it – as with the fastening demise of the ice cream van – not something I had realised until I read this article and thought – you know I agree – when was the last time I nipped onto the street corner for a Strawberry Mivvy?
This article goes on to explain: “As recently as five years ago there were an estimated 20,000 vans plying the streets with Mr Whippy and assorted Feasts, as well as burgers, hot dogs, and overpriced cans of fizzy drink. The fleet has been reduced to a quarter of that size, with councils piling on more pressure by banning vans from some housing estates, parks and schools because of concerns about noise pollution and childhood obesity.
Other authorities have created ice cream selling exclusion zones in town centres, hiked the cost of a van operator’s licence and limited how long vans can sound their chimes. Soaring food and petrol prices have also helped drive a flake into the heart of an industry already on its knees.
I suspect there are still a whole army of butchers, fish mongers and fruit and veg vans which ply their trade in rural England – it would be interesting to know how they are faring in these times of “Supermarket Direct” and in this era of local government efficiencies whether we could also get them to offer library books and housing benefit forms?