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Planning Restrictions on Lay By - Please help!

by kay
(north yorkshire uk)

Hi I have recently purchased a catering van its 18 months old, I have it on a local boot sale every Sunday but I have spoken to the council about a lay-by I was wanting to go in and after waiting 2 days for a phone call from them they are telling me there are planning restrictions on it?

I don’t know why and they won’t tell me it is large enough for me and at least 6+ lorries/cars it. I would not be an obstruction etc so I don’t know why I can’t park there.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

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Mar 20, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Catering Menu
by: David

This is great news for you, with regards to prices why not just sell everything 20p cheaper than your competition, but please make sure that you offer good value, free serviettes, call and order service, takeaway menu (mobile number) daily paper to read while you?re cooking their breakfast etc.Really go all out!

Always taste your food and be on the lookout for better tasting stock to make sure you retain your customers for the long- term, well done and the best of luck with you. Send us a picture if you
have time and let us know how you get on.

David


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Mar 20, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		Great NEW Catering Pitch
by: Anonymous

Hi thanks for the reply, I have now found out that the lay-by is restricted to just catering vans due to the local people! Which I being there would not affect them at all as it is a MAIN A ROAD!

I also found out after working it for 3 days that every van that has pulled in there has been asked to leave. :( Very upsetting as all the lorry drivers wanted it there, but some good has come from the situation.

I now have a legal pitch from another local council (whom I must say were much nicer) and my van has received a 5 star rating from them. So it's happy cooking for me now lol.

p.s can anyone shed any light on prices?

I am just selling your average burgers, bacon and sausages etc at the moment, but I think I am selling too cheap as I need to beat the completion from the next burger van approx 2 miles away thanks all
Mar 20, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		Refused Catering Pitch on Lay-By
by: David

Hi Kay,

Sorry to hear this but without them even telling you why they won't allow you to park and pitch it's very difficult to understand their reasoning.

Is there any way you can write, asking them for the reason why you can't park on the lay-by.

Also have you tried contacting the highways agency to see if they can shed any light on this matter?

Sometime ago I was in similar position and was refused a pitch - the explanation they gave was that I would block access and cause an obstruction. Not a very good reason from my point of view.

Do try and get to the bottom of this, but don't spend too much time on it as your time will be better searching for another pitch.

Best of luck

David

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