Ice cream vans across Peterborough are undergoing rigorous
health and safety checks to ensure that they are fit to sell
ice-cream to residents this summer.
Peterborough City Council is introducing a plating system for
all consented ice cream vans which operate within the Peterborough
licensing area. This plating system is similar to that of the
licensed taxi and private hire vehicles and will only be issued to
traders whose vehicles and drivers have undergone intensive
checks.
Darren Dolby, Licensing Regulatory Officer at Peterborough City
Council said “At present Peterborough has a total of 17 ice cream
traders registered in the city and each of these will be undergoing
such checks.
“The new licensing system gives traders the
opportunity to add recognised value to their business and highlight
to customers that they have been accredited as meeting all
necessary standards.
Ice cream vans are required to be of
roadworthy condition with full insurance and a valid MOT. All vans
are registered with the city council and undergo regular food
hygiene checks. The ice cream traders are all CRB vetted and
checked to ensure they have a valid driving licence. Once all these
checks are completed, they are issued with a council ‘ice cream
trader’ badge which they must wear whilst working. These
checks are compulsory and all traders must complete the above
checks to be able to sell ice creams in Peterborough.
Ice cream traders who sign up to the new
plating system, which is not compulsory, will receive a blue
council plate if they pass the required standard. This plate will
then be fitted to the rear of the vehicle and will contain a unique
trader two digit number as well as the vehicle registration number.
The plates are currently being rolled out to all vans and it is
anticipated that all consented vans will be plated by the 1 June
2012.
Councillor
Peter Hiller, Cabinet Member for Housing, Neighbourhoods and
Planning, said: “The plating scheme has been introduced this year
to reassure the public that ice cream vans which have a council
plate have undergone checks to ensure that both the driver and the
vehicle are fit and proper to sell ice cream in the Peterborough
area. It also makes it easier for the public to identify ice cream
vans should they wish to make a complaint about a trader.
“Our main concern, is creating a safe and
trusted system whereby the residents of Peterborough feel ice cream
traders are monitored regularly in order to give people confidence
in the services available to them- just in time for summer!”
Ends.