TOWN Hall licensing chiefs at Warrington are being asked to resolve a six-year dispute over a street trader’s kiosk which is alleged to “lower the tone” of the town centre.
The Fasta Pasta kiosk – which sells pasta, paninis and hot and cold drinks – cost more than £23,000 and was 
accepted by the borough council in 2002 as part of an overall vision for a “continental style atmosphere” in the streets.
But as soon as it was introduced in 2003 the council received complaints and now a resident has lodged an objection to the trader’s application to renew his street trading consent.
The resident claims the kiosk is out of character with the “skittles” street art at Market Gate.
In April last year, following repeated complaints, the kiosk was relocated to Town Hill, but was moved back to Market Gate the following month after the trader experienced a sharp decline in business.
A report to licensing chiefs last year admitted the council had control over the design of the kiosk to ensure the aesthetics of the street art scheme were not adversely affected.
But it also admits that the impact on the “skittles” – officially known as The Guardians – had turned out to be greater than perceived when the original consent was granted.
“There is no doubt that it has a detrimental impact on the visual amenity of the purpose built art features,” the report stated.
Another potential site for the kiosk has been identified in Bridge Street – but Skipton Building Society, Yorkshire Building Society and Hancock and Wood have objected.
The Yorkshire Building Society say the kiosk would “lower the tone” of the street.
But Starbucks’ coffee shop support the relocation of the kiosk.
The council has power to revoke consent for the kiosk, but the trader could appeal to the Magistrates’ Court which could rule against the council. There are also implications for the trader’s human rights.
If the kiosk was relocated to Bridge Street, a power supply would have to be laid on for which no funding is available. Licensing chiefs will have to decide whether relocating Fasta Pasta can be justified in pursuance of the general or public interest.
Councillors will have to decide whether to renew a trading consent – and if so whether to offer an alternative site.
Pictured: The skittles…are they aesthetically challenged by a pasta kiosk?
5 Comments
Simple solution. get rid of the skittles. they are an eyesore.
I agree, given the choice most people would vote for the grub rather than the eyesore.
” A six-year dispute over a street trader’s kiosk which is alleged to “lower the tone” of the town centre.
… a resident says ???? kiosk is out of character with the “skittles” street art at Market Gate.
….. The council admits that the impact on the “skittles” – officially known as The Guardians – had turned out to be greater than perceived …. and there “There is no doubt that it has a detrimental impact on the visual amenity of the purpose built art features,” a report stated
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I’ve heard everything now !! For goodness sake it’s a CLEAN, WELL RUN, SMALL BUSINESS, which is HARDLY NOTICABLE and sells LOVELY FOOD and it certainly doesn’t detract from the so called ‘street scene’ (whatever that is supposed to be)
If they are going to stop the Fasta Pasta van from being there are they also going to stop the much larger stripey tent that is often erected behing the past van higher up on the skittles circle for musicians and kids entertainers, and are they also going to stop the groups of ‘goths’ and other strangely dresses teens that frequent the skittle area and make walking by feel a little uneasy? The last two casue more of a distraction to the street scene than one little purpose built pasta van.
How on earth this has allegidly turned into a six year dispute is beyond even me… aren’t there more important issues to be addressed and more importantly aren;t the council supposed to be supporting small local businesses !!
” A six-year dispute over a street trader’s kiosk which is alleged to “lower the tone” of the
town centre…. a resident says ???? kiosk is out of character with the “skittles” street art
at Market Gate…… The council admits that the impact on the “skittles” – officially known as
The Guardians – had turned out to be greater than perceived …. and there “There is no doubt
that it has a detrimental impact on the visual amenity of the purpose built art features,”
a report stated
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
I’ve heard everything now !! For goodness sake it’s a CLEAN, WELL RUN, SMALL
BUSINESS,
which is HARDLY NOTICABLE and sells LOVELY FOOD and it certainly doesn’t detract from
the so called ‘street scene’ (whatever that is supposed to be)
If they are going to stop the Fasta Pasta van from being there are they also going to stop the
much larger stripey tent that is often erected behing the past van higher up on the skittles
circle for musicians and kids entertainers, and are they also going to stop the groups of
‘goths’ and other strangely dresses teens that frequent the skittle area and make walking by
feel a little uneasy? The last two casue more of a distraction to the street scene than one little
purpose built pasta van.
How on earth this has allegidly turned into a six year dispute is beyond even me… aren’t there
more important issues to be addressed and more importantly aren’t the council supposed to
be supporting small local businesses !!
I would have thought that the main thing that lowers the tone of that area is the empty tatty shops and the drunken yobs frequenting the area on a Saturday night – the council needs to get a reality check!!