Ice cream wars in New Forest as village shops call for van to be banned

Owner of high street parlour calls on historic court to back his stand against rival seller

An ice cream parlour owner in the New Forest has pleaded for a rival vendor’s van at a local beauty spot to be banned because it is “stealing business”.
Tim Laine, 73, who runs Forest Glade ice cream parlour, says his is just one of many businesses in the village of Lyndhurst that are suffering decreased footfall and profits since Warren’s Ice Cream moved a van into the car park at a nearby beauty spot.
And he has called for the application by the van’s owner, Warren Dickens, for a new two-year lease to be refused.
Bolton’s Bench, where the van is sited, is a popular spot for people visiting the New Forest National Park and is named after the Duke of Bolton, the New Forest’s master keeper in the 18th century.
Mr Laine, who runs his ice cream parlour with his son Simon, put this case at the Verderers Court, a historic group responsible for the preservation of the New Forest.
He said: “Two years ago, the Verderers granted a licence for an ice cream van to trade from the car park at Bolton’s Bench. I am requesting that this is not granted again for the following reasons.
“The sale of refreshments at Bolton’s Bench adversely affects the footfall into the village, and consequently the turnover of establishments in our village is significantly reduced.
“This van pays no rates to the local council, doesn’t belong to the local Chamber of Commerce and makes no contribution to the local events and the community of Lyndhurst.
“The van also has its engine running continuously, which is not good for air quality, and Lyndhurst already has a very poor record for air pollution.”
His statement was supported by Hilary Brand, who represents the village on New Forest district council.
Cllr Brand told the Verderers Court that four businesses have closed in Lyndhurst in the past few months. She added: “Anything that takes people away from the village damages the high street businesses which run various village events for the benefit of residents.”
On Friday, Mr Laine said an ice cream truck – or any food van – will stop people from going into the village.
He said: “We have a strange business model, we open the doors at Easter and stay open through to Hallowe’en, when it gets too cold and wet. We have to make enough through the summer months, it’s always hard work.”
Previously, David Pearson, the owner of Sweet Chillies cafe, has said it is “absolutely ridiculous” that a van is allowed to operate at Bolton’s Bench.
Mr Dickens, 45, runs 12 ice cream vans in the New Forest and surrounding area. He said he is within his rights to operate at Bolton’s Bench, having had his licence approved by Forestry England.
He said: “I only deal with Forestry Commission, not the Verderers. We pay for the licence.” Asked about concerns that his business is hindering footfall on the high street, he said: “I don’t really know what to make of that, to be honest. We’re away from the high street, the way I see it.”
The licence is up for renewal, with Forestry England set to decide which business takes on the new tender in the coming weeks.
A Forestry England spokesman said: “A small number of ice cream and refreshment vans have been operating in Forestry England car parks in the New Forest for many years.
“The vans operate under contract to Forestry England. The funds raised by Forestry England from this go directly back into caring for the Forest and looking after facilities including car parks that serve the Forest and the local area.”