Published: Wednesday, 14th June 2023

Today the Council's Cabinet took the decision to make a timely review of its existing Street Trading Policy from 2015.

A council spokesperson said:  

“We have not banned ice cream vans. Itinerant ice cream vans, ones that move from place to place, are able to trade from hundreds of roads in the Royal Borough of Greenwich without a licence for 15 minutes at a time, and this is still the case.  

“Today the Council's Cabinet took the decision to make a timely review of its existing Street Trading Policy from 2015 (required by the London Local Authorities Act 1990). The public will have a chance to have their say on proposals during a 28-day period before any new policy is considered and adopted at Full Council. 

“The existing policy designates 33 of the most sensitive locations in the borough where itinerant ice cream trading from mobile ice cream vans is not allowed. The draft policy adds two further locations where fixed location ice cream trading is allowed at Duke Humphrey Road (SE10) and Powis Street (SE18). This policy ensures ice cream can still be sold at locations across the borough whilst ensuring sensitive locations – such as our beautiful UNESCO world heritage site – which attracts thousands of visitors each year – is protected, as well as stopping unnecessary engine idling and narrow pavements being blocked by queues.”  

Read the meeting papers