Bradley Stoke kebab van wins street trading licence despite road safety fears

Man in black jacket sat at desk talking into microphone at council meeting
-Credit:South Gloucestershire Council/Public-i


A popular kebab van has been given permission to set up shop near a busy junction despite neighbours’ concerns about road safety. Mehmet Isitmen, who runs Muzzy’s Kebabs in Bradley Stoke, was granted a street trading consent for Woodlands, off Woodlands Lane.

South Gloucestershire Council licensing sub-committee approved his application despite objections from six residents. There was no opposition from any authorities, including the Streetcare team and Bradley Stoke Parish Council.

Mr Isitmen asked to trade from 5pm to 11pm daily but councillors limited the starting time to 6pm. Neighbours complained that the narrow road and limited visibility was too dangerous for a kebab van.

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They also expressed fears about litter, smells, noise and bright lights near homes. One resident told the hearing on Monday, January 6, that there had been several road accidents at the junction, which is at the entrance to a business park.

Another said in a written submission to the sub-committee: “What with unwanted helicopter noise and other food vendors, the last thing we need is a kebab travelling foodstore.” A neighbour wrote: “We were very surprised that this particular location is even being considered, due to the obvious unsuitability of the road in question.

“It is very narrow and during the day when cars are parked all along one side there is no passing space. We feel strongly this food van would have a negative effect on our lives.

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“Our bedroom faces that direction and noise carries at night. The road is just not suitable for this sort of enterprise.”

Father-of-three Mr Isitmen told the panel that he had been trading in Bradley Stoke since 2007 and had never received a complaint. He said the van’s illuminated signs would face away from houses and that the business did not use a generator.

Mr Isitmen said he wanted to open at a second location to take pressure off the existing one at Ash Ridge Road, which would also remain open. He said the new site was much closer to many of his customers and he expected most of them to walk instead of drive.