Line in the sand? Council set to ban new beach food vans

Aberdeen City Council is set to stop new food and drink vans setting up at the city's beachfront after concerns about the number of street traders operating in the area.

A total of 36 businesses have permission to set up there, ranging from burger and burrito bars to sweet treats.

The local authority will vote on proposals that could see no new licences granted while beach masterplan works are ongoing and are recommending a presumption against street trading be brought in.

Those objecting to the plans include a coffee cart whose owners say the move has halted their ambition to move into the area.

Concerns have been raised recently about a lack of space for food vans to operate, while some have described the look of the area as "unsightly".

Some of the businesses operate for just a day or two per week.

Lauren Patterson-Strath runs LA Coffee with her partner Amy on the city's York Street, around the corner from the Beach Esplanade.

She told BBC Scotland News she had begun the process to apply for a licence to move her cart to the beachfront, only to be told the rule change meant it would no longer be possible.

"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 it could ultimately lead to her business moving somewhere else with better footfall.

One of the longstanding businesses in the area is the Highlander Cafe bus which has operated since 2017.

It is run by Samuel Turcu-Georgescu and his son Darius who said it was important to get the mix of vans right.

"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 freeing up spaces if a trader was not operating to let others 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 will not be granted due to the ongoing beach improvement works.

They have also suggested a change to the council's street trader policy to extend the presumption against it to the beachfront area.

Renewal applications would, however, be allowed to continue.

Aberdeen City Council has declined to comment ahead of the committee.