Row over Bradford street food truck forced to move on amid 'accident hazard' fears

Father-of-two Stephen Chapman opened the Street Nouveau truck last month in a change of career after being made redundant during the Covid pandemic.

Before ploughing £10,000 into the new enterprise, he contacted Bradford Council to find out what permits or licences he would need.

He said he explained that he wanted to park his trailer on Halifax Road in Buttershaw, and he was simply told he did not need a permit for that location.

The Street Nouveau food truck on Halifax Road

He went on to buy the catering trailer and parked it up at the side of the busy main road for a month while he prepared to open.

But he was shocked and dismayed when on his third day of opening he was handed a letter from the Council's Highways department giving him 48 hours to cease trading and remove the trailer.

He told the Telegraph & Argus that initially one officer complained that he was partly parked on the pavement and that the gas cannister was too close to the highway. So he offered solutions to both issues.

But further emails from the Council explained he was breaching the Highways Act, as the gas canister was a "serious danger to the public should accidental collision occur".

In a statement the Council has reiterated that mobile cafes must not obstruct the highway or create an accident hazard - and moreoever that Mr Chapman did NOT have Highways' approval to locate his food truck there.

Mr Chapman told the T&A: "There are various other trucks around Bradford in a similar position, and there used to be a flower stall and a food truck on Halifax Road before. That's partly why I chose this location - and because there are two large companies nearby. I've lost around £500 in stock as I had to close down, and I've lost out on income while I found a new location."

In an email he sent to the Council, he said: "I am absolutely disgusted at the treatment I have received from Bradford Council and devastated that if I cannot locate another spot for my trailer, then my business will fail before it really started."

He added that he had sought Council advice beforehand and this action was leaving his business and finances in ruins.

Mr Chapman has now found another location, at Low Moor Industrial Estate, and has started rebuilding his fledgling business.

Stephen Chapman working at the new location

A spokesman for the Council said: “Public safety has to be the council’s top priority and we are obliged to follow the Highways Act to ensure our roads are safe. Mobile cafes cannot be allowed to create an accident hazard and must not obstruct the highway.

“We appreciate Mr Chapman sought the relevant Environmental Health approvals and acted with the best of intentions, however, he did not secure Highways’ approval for a mobile cafe in this location.

“We advised him that storing large gas canisters on an A road creates a potential serious accident hazard and he must move the unit.

“We are pleased Mr Chapman has found a new location for his business and wish him every success for the future.”