A street trader has been given the thumbs up to sell buckets and spades, crab lines as well as ice creams on an Isle of Wight seafront, despite 19 objections.
The Isle of Wight council’s licensing sub-committee on Friday gave Carly Sykes, of The Salty Siren, permission to open a concession on Princes Esplanade in Gurnard, after an earlier hearing date in March was delayed when not enough councillors turned up.
Filling a gap in the market
Mrs Sykes, a local to Cowes and Gurnard, said she had thought for many years the seafront was missing a little something which sold seaside essentials.
She said,
“Our main goal is to bring something for everyone all year round, not just tourists in the summer months.”
Sykes: Far enough away from beach to not disturb residents
Mrs Sykes said they chose the location of their removable catering pod because it was within walking distance to the beach but far enough away it would not disturb residents.
She said they had tried to be as mindful as possible to others while being as eco-friendly as possible.
The application, however, had been met with 19 objections from nearby residents — many of which, the council said, had parts which could not be considered as they referenced competiton and whether the business is needed.
Potential public nuisance, public safety and environmental issues
Co-director of Plaza Ices, Gary Hall, spoke at the council’s sub-committee meeting and said he was one of six traders already along the Esplanade and highlighted the concentration in the area.
He raised concerns with the dual-fuel generator that was being proposed to run the catering pod, saying he could think of nowhere else a dual-fuel generator ran on the highway eight hours a day, seven days a week, causing potential public nuisance, public safety and environmental issues.
Other concerns
Other concerns about noise from the generator were raised with one resident of the nearby Solent Shores flats saying she was “devastated” by the proposal and it would “ultimately destroy the tranquil nature” of the Esplanade.
Mark Wootton, the council’s senior environmental health officer said the noise levels generated would not be such to be deemed a public nuisance as it would be on par with the measured level of background noise — waves hitting the shore, traffic passing and people talking.
The environmental impact of the generator was not something the committee could consider.
Consent from May
Consent has been granted for a year, starting on 20th May 2024.
The business can be open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
