Illegal ice cream trader banned from Bankside
Published 22 February 2012
An illegal ice cream seller has been permanently banned from the bankside area after losing a case in the Royal Courts of Justice.
Ms Elma Sanli, who runs a fleet of Ice cream vans has previously been prosecuted and fined repeatedly for illegal street trading within a prohibited area.
The trial took place at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, and Judge, Honour Judge Seymour QC, made a permanent Injunction against Ms Elma Sanli and her company. The injunction prevents Ms Sanli, her family and employees from trading within the prohibited area. It also stipulates the route her vehicles need to take to pass through the exclusion area. Southwark Council were also awarded total costs of £21,500.
Cllr Barrie Hargrove, Cabinet member for Transport, environment and recycling at Southwark Council, said:
"By persistently breaking the law she not only posed a potential health risk to innocent visitors here, but she caused continual disruption to the residents who were at their wits end with her antisocial behaviour.
"Some traders have been charging tourists extortionate sums for an ice cream and this sort of cynical pricing gives the area, and genuine traders there, a really bad name. I hope this sends a signal that we won't tolerate dodgy traders like this one."
The decision to implement a licensing scheme of traders was put in place last year following a huge number of complaints from residents about illegal trading on the site.
From November 2010 only licensed traders have been permitted to operate in designated areas, allowing the council to ensure levels of quality, health and safety are maintained and antisocial behaviour is kept in check.
