Bid for 'cheap and healthy' fruit stand in Leicester city centre faces opposition

A fruit and veg wholesaler's hope of opening a food stand near the Clock Tower in Leicester city centre is facing stiff opposition ahead of a decision by councillors next week. Zaki Sharara has applied to Leicester City Council for permission to open a stand on Humberstone Gate, near HSBC, selling "cheap, healthy" fruit and meals.

But the council's licensing sub-committee, which will make the decision on Tuesday (November 26), has been advised by planning officers that the stall is not in line with council policy. The policy in question is for the council to "tend to allow" such food stalls only on the market, on industrial estates, outside the city's sports stadiums or during community events.

Council documents show that Mr Sharara's stall, if given permission to open, would be about six metres wide, situated under a gazebo, and would operate from 9am until 6pm seven days a week.

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The applicant said in a letter to the council: "The population needs a fresh meal every day. Why should kids go to the shop and buy an unhealthy snack instead of buying an apple, banana or clementine - something beneficial for their body.

"Our main goal is to promote a healthy lifestyle for the community and to meet people's daily needs. Not everyone likes to vist the market as [it is] hard to access when you have small kids with a pushchair."

Mr Sharara added that being a street stall instead of a shop would allow him to keep prices low to "help everyone with the high cost of living". He added: "If we take on premises we cannot keep our prices as low as we wish to."

Mr Sharara said a fast food meal for a family of four in the city centre cost between £20 and £30, whereas the meals he would sell would cost £10 or less for four people. He was supported by six emails to the council asking the council's sub-committee to grant the licence.

But objections came from people within the authority, including city centre director Sarah Harrison. She said: "Leicester has had an historic market for nearly 800 years which currently trades on Green Dragon Square. The market sells a full range of fruit and vegetables at affordable prices.

"A stall on Humberstone Gate does not fit with the vision and ambitions of the soon-to-be developed market designed to provide a critical mass of fruit and vegetable options for the community on a historic site."

There have also been concerns raised by the Leicester City Council festivals team and the Leicester Markets manager. However, the members of the sub-committee will have the option of granting the licence if they wish.