A hot roll street trader has been allowed to operate again after convincing councillors that school children won’t block the pavement at his snack van - claiming they go to Greggs instead.
The popular Edinburgh vendor on Gorgie Road, known locally for its £1 rolls, was forced to close recently after the council found its owner was operating without a licence.
Appearing before a licensing sub-committee on Monday (February 8), John Smith said he was only trading for a month before the visit from officers.
He added he thought a licence wasn't necessary as his van was parked on a plot of private land by the pavement.
Mr Smith told councillors: "I'm honest here, I thought I could open it on private property then licensing came down and said I need a licence . Then I closed it. I've not been operating since.
He said locals have been asking when he will re-open for business, adding: "I told them I can't open until I get this sorted."
However, Edinburgh City Council's roads department objected to his application and raised concerns that people queuing for food would obstruct the pavement and force pedestrians onto the road.
Mr Smith argued there is "plenty of room for people passing by" and said customers queue within the private land the van is parked on.
Furthermore, he insisted there would "never be big queues at the van" and that droves of peckish pupils from the nearby Tynecastle High School would not be an issue.
"The school kids will not be using the van because I'm only in there myself and I don't want school kids at the van I just want my usual regulars," he said.
Tory Councillor Cameron Rose questioned how he would enforce a no pupil policy, adding: "I can imagine at £1 a roll would be a honeypot for school children."
Mr Smith replied: "There's too many of them, they all go to Greggs. They all walk down towards Greggs, they don't walk up my way and I wouldn't put a sign out."
But Councillor Rose pointed out they "will not get their roll for £1 at Greggs."
Meanwhile, convenor Councillor Catherine Fullerton, SNP, reported passing the snack van often and disputed Mr Smith's claim that he was only trading for a month prior to the council's visit and subsequent order to cease operations.
She said: "You say you were only trading for a month, well my recollection of that is more but we won't split hairs over this."
Councillor Fullerton added she witnessed "people queuing on the pavement," contrary to the street vendor's account.
"I pass this a lot," she said, "and often people in cars stop to get their rolls or whatever and stop buses getting round so near Ardmillan it causes a jam, so I think the objection from transport does have some grounding, we really need to address this.
"I know the area very well and I have seen people crowding on the pavement when I have passed on foot or on the bus and it's caused a big commotion to get transport through to the lights, so I do think there's an issue."
Despite the objections from Councillor Fullerton and roads officers, a majority of committee members voted in favour of granting Mr Smith permission to resume trading.
