Parents in a picturesque Cambridge village have claimed playgrounds are becoming 'no-go zones' due to ice cream van turf wars. The relentless 'merry-go-round' of trading wars between ice cream vendors has spilled over onto surrounding streets, according to residents in Trumpington.
Community Initiative Calls for Tighter Controls
The heated rivalry has led to a resident-organised community initiative, Clay Farm Food, urging Cambridge City Council to introduce tighter controls on mobile ice cream traders. The group argues that the current system leaves parks, playgrounds, and residential streets vulnerable to unregulated competition and safety risks.
In a letter to the council, they wrote: 'It is shocking that such operators are allowed in such close proximity to a primary school (less than 100m away) and on the site of the playground. Parents should not have to 'fight' and deal with the ordeal of distraught children wanting ice-cream when parents cannot be certain of their child's safety first and foremost and their health.'
Parents are reporting that they feel Stallan Close Play Area is turning into a no-go zone due to the ceaseless merry-go-round of ice cream traders exploiting this seemingly unregulated industry. They argued that residents should not have to police traders or avoid certain playgrounds because of 'ice-cream trader turf-wars' that block roads and access to people's homes.
Proposed Licensing Model
Campaigners are calling for the council to adopt a licensing model similar to Peterborough's, which regulates ice-cream traders in the same way as taxi drivers. Under the proposal, any trader operating within the council boundary would be required to obtain a Cambridge Ice Cream Trading Licence. This would involve providing proof of a valid MOT, vehicle insurance, a driving licence for anyone operating the van, DBS checks, food-safety certification for staff selling ice cream, and a food-hygiene certificate for the business.
They are also calling for a ban on mobile ice cream vans operating within 250 metres of schools and along the perimeter of parks and playgrounds. Clay Farm Food said traders 'don't just turn up' on streets such as Park Parade, Chesterton Road or Victoria Avenue near Jesus Green - and that the same restrictions must apply in areas like Trumpington's Stallan Close and any other residential play space.
Council Response
A council spokesperson said: 'Ice cream vans are permitted to trade provided they are registered as a food business with the local authority responsible for the area where the vehicle is normally kept overnight. This means a business does not necessarily have to be registered with Cambridge City Council in order to operate within the city. All registered food businesses are subject to food hygiene and safety regulations, and members of the public can check a business's food hygiene rating online at ratings.food.gov.uk. If an ice cream van is trading within Cambridge and the council receives a complaint relating to food hygiene or food safety, this would be investigated by us in line with our usual enforcement procedures.'
