Today's most viewed
LISTEN HERE
 Jessica Goyder is the latest musician to put her singles on our site. Listen here
| THE INSIDER
 Get the lowdown inside the corridors of power in Oxfordshire here.
| SEND AN OBITUARY
Send us a tribute to someone who has passed away
| ON YER BIKE
 Get the view from the gutter with cycling group Cyclox in Oxfordshire
|
|
|
|
Kebab vans face clampdown
 |
| Customers at the McCoys van in St Aldate's |
Kebab van owners claim Oxford City Council is attempting to drive them out of business amid a fresh clampdown on opening hours.
Inspectors have told the kebab vans to shut up shop by 3am - before many people pour out of clubs, which are now open later following changes to licensing laws.
The city's late night snack servers have gathered together a petition with thousands of signatures opposing the move.
Muhamed Ulas, of Sid's Kitchen, which parks in St Aldate's, said: "I think the council is trying to get rid of kebab vans.
"I will fight this new rule for as long as it takes. People have mortgages to pay and kids to support."
The council has said the crackdown has come amid concerns for public safety.
But, while some vans have proved to be flashpoints for city centre trouble in the past, the owners think it would be better to keep them open longer.
Ahmed Semlali, who works at Ahmed's kebab van in High Street, has been closing at 4am for 17 years.
He has now been told he could face jail or a £20,000 fine if he does not finish an hour earlier.
Mr Semlali, whose petition has been signed by 1,600 customers, said: "That hour is really important and a big part of my income.
"There are so many people looking for food after 3am and it helps them sober up. They can get angry and violent when they see me closing early. My van was kicked in by someone, because we couldn't give him food."
Jamshaid Nasib, of McCoy's van, Pembroke Square, has collected 700 signatures.
| We don't want to be a killjoys — in fact, I’ve eaten many kebabs in my time — but kebab vans are a flashpoint for trouble | | Ed Turner, chairman of the city council's licensing committee |
|
He said: "All sorts of people are signing up to support us, including hundreds of line workers at the BMW factory, bus, taxi, and ambulance drivers - even policemen."
The 16 kebab traders have employed lawyer Yvonne Shanti, from Chase Law in Beaumont Street, to help them fight the move.
At a meeting with traders on February 1, the council decided to enforce a 3am licensing law that had been allowed to lapse, despite having the power to alter the hours or start a consultation process.
Kebab traders argued the 3am deadline was imposed when clubs closed much earlier in the morning and the council has turned a blind eye to 4am closing for years.
Ed Turner, chairman of the licensing committee, said: "Of course we're not trying to get rid of the vans. Our decision is based on public safety, not the commercial interests of the van owners.
"We don't want to be a killjoys - in fact, I've eaten many kebabs in my time - but kebab vans are a flashpoint for trouble. If hours were extended, the police would have to change their shifts."
The city council said it had received no complaints recently about noise or trouble from kebab vans open late.
City council spokesman Louisa Dean said: "Kebab vans in Oxford have been required by law to finish trading at 3am since the street trading consent scheme came into being in 1986.
"We have written to all kebab van traders reconfirming the closing time stated in their licences and would ask them to comply with the 3am finish."
8:55am Thursday 22nd February 2007
Print 
Email this 
CommentPosted by: Alan, Oxford on 8:20am Thu 22 Feb 07
Whatever happened to free enterprise, let the kebab vans trade when its best for them, its not them who cause the trouble, its the combination of drink and i guess youngsters. The council strikes again, leave them alone.
Whatever happened to free enterprise, let the kebab vans trade when its best for them, its not them who cause the trouble, its the combination of drink and i guess youngsters. The council strikes again, leave them alone.
Posted by: jamie kent, cumnor on 8:49am Thu 22 Feb 07
you can drink yourself silly all day until 3am sanctioned by the council but want a kebab later no chance too dangerous!!!!! am i missing something
you can drink yourself silly all day until 3am sanctioned by the council but want a kebab later no chance too dangerous!!!!! am i missing something
Posted by: Brian Call, Cowley on 9:25am Thu 22 Feb 07
Leave them alone! We should be supporting these small businesses, not closing them. What's the harm!?
Leave them alone! We should be supporting these small businesses, not closing them. What's the harm!?
Posted by: dave, Mars on 10:07am Thu 22 Feb 07
In thier licences to trade it states they must close by 3am.They agreed to the terms so what's the problem.Nothing to do with persecution,just the council enforcing the law for a change.
In thier licences to trade it states they must close by 3am.They agreed to the terms so what's the problem.Nothing to do with persecution,just the council enforcing the law for a change.
Posted by: Roger on 10:36am Thu 22 Feb 07
With all due respect, Mr Turner's excuses are an absolute load of rubbish. If the kebab vans were a "flashpoint for trouble" then the city council would have received complaints, and it has not. And if the vans have been open until 4am for the last 17 years then the police shifts will already be taking that into account. I cannot see a single valid reason for the jobsworths at the council refusing to alter the licensing laws.
With all due respect, Mr Turner's excuses are an absolute load of rubbish. If the kebab vans were a "flashpoint for trouble" then the city council would have received complaints, and it has not. And if the vans have been open until 4am for the last 17 years then the police shifts will already be taking that into account. I cannot see a single valid reason for the jobsworths at the council refusing to alter the licensing laws.
Posted by: Paul, Oxford on 11:05am Thu 22 Feb 07
Congratulations Councillors - You have yet again managed to spend a week debating something which will only annoy people rather than solving ALL the issues which already annoy people.
When are we going to stand up to these idiots?
Have they got nothing better to do?
I wonder how many expenses they will claim for sandwiches and bourbons while they discussed this?
Congratulations Councillors - You have yet again managed to spend a week debating something which will only annoy people rather than solving ALL the issues which already annoy people.
When are we going to stand up to these idiots?
Have they got nothing better to do?
I wonder how many expenses they will claim for sandwiches and bourbons while they discussed this?
Posted by: Tony Brett, Oxford on 12:16pm Thu 22 Feb 07
Lay off the Kebab vans! Giving people something to eat after a night out on the lash will reduce crime, not increase it!
Throughout my time on the council there was a definite feeling that various council officers did not like kebab vans and would like to see the end of them. I think that would very bad.
Another thing - why on earth can't the city arrange proper power connections for them, like it does the daytime stalls on Queen Street? Getting rid of the nasty generators would make the Kebab vans much more pleasant to be around.
Lay off the Kebab vans! Giving people something to eat after a night out on the lash will reduce crime, not increase it!
Throughout my time on the council there was a definite feeling that various council officers did not like kebab vans and would like to see the end of them. I think that would very bad.
Another thing - why on earth can't the city arrange proper power connections for them, like it does the daytime stalls on Queen Street? Getting rid of the nasty generators would make the Kebab vans much more pleasant to be around.
Posted by: Cllr Ed Turner, Oxford on 12:44pm Thu 22 Feb 07
What the article doesn't make clear is that the decision was taken specifically on the advice of Thames Valley Police. I cannot imagine people would support us ignoring police advice on such an important issue. They said that any extension would take officers off the day shifts.
If this police advice changes, then I am sure we will look at the issue again.
What the article doesn't make clear is that the decision was taken specifically on the advice of Thames Valley Police. I cannot imagine people would support us ignoring police advice on such an important issue. They said that any extension would take officers off the day shifts.
If this police advice changes, then I am sure we will look at the issue again.
Posted by: Tony Brett, Oxford on 1:18pm Thu 22 Feb 07
But surely if the kebab vans shut too early then everyone will just pile straight from the clubs to the taxi ranks and the "flashpoint for trouble" will be at them instead.
Letting people get food will slow down the rate at which they get to the taxi queues and also help them to sober up a bit. This is surely a no-brainer.
Allowing 4am opening for the kebab vans would not be a change -it's what's been going on for years!
But surely if the kebab vans shut too early then everyone will just pile straight from the clubs to the taxi ranks and the "flashpoint for trouble" will be at them instead.
Letting people get food will slow down the rate at which they get to the taxi queues and also help them to sober up a bit. This is surely a no-brainer.
Allowing 4am opening for the kebab vans would not be a change -it's what's been going on for years!
Posted by: Ed Ruddick, Oxford on 1:55pm Thu 22 Feb 07
Councillors Ed.... "They said that any extension would take officers off the day shifts." Surely by creating more violence and trouble by shutting them at 3am would take more police off their day shift?
I have been out many years and never seen a fight in a que for a Kebab van, but have seen plenty around the ques for buses or directly outside clubs. By shutting the vans you are just pushing more people to these danger points. Not only are you creating a bigger problem for the police you are creating a less safe Oxford city centre
Councillors Ed.... "They said that any extension would take officers off the day shifts." Surely by creating more violence and trouble by shutting them at 3am would take more police off their day shift?
I have been out many years and never seen a fight in a que for a Kebab van, but have seen plenty around the ques for buses or directly outside clubs. By shutting the vans you are just pushing more people to these danger points. Not only are you creating a bigger problem for the police you are creating a less safe Oxford city centre
Posted by: Meredith, cowley on 3:38pm Thu 22 Feb 07
Where's the evidence that kebab vans cause trouble? Let's see it. If vans shut earlier, are the drunken people just going to vanish into thin air!? Get real - drunken people are the problem, not kebabs.
Where's the evidence that kebab vans cause trouble? Let's see it. If vans shut earlier, are the drunken people just going to vanish into thin air!? Get real - drunken people are the problem, not kebabs.
Posted by: A local resident, Oxford on 12:56am Fri 23 Feb 07
Well I'm fed up with the discarded litter and wrappers (all those young people who don't like their salad?) and kebab soaked vomit along the Abingdon Road. sometimes it's pretty disgusting especially at the weekend. 3 am is late enough - in fact probably too late if you are a local resident on a kebab scoffing route. There are many sides to this issue.
Well I'm fed up with the discarded litter and wrappers (all those young people who don't like their salad?) and kebab soaked vomit along the Abingdon Road. sometimes it's pretty disgusting especially at the weekend. 3 am is late enough - in fact probably too late if you are a local resident on a kebab scoffing route. There are many sides to this issue.
Posted by: james, oxford on 1:34pm Fri 23 Feb 07
I really think all this agro over clubbers isn't to do with kebab vans but the places that feed this binge nation that is so obvious to all that see it every weekend in general. Why don't you increase the police force instead of making cut-backs when the population of oxford grows every year our police shrink! Tackle the problem at the root of the trouble and stop putting blame on people who are trying to make a living.
I really think all this agro over clubbers isn't to do with kebab vans but the places that feed this binge nation that is so obvious to all that see it every weekend in general. Why don't you increase the police force instead of making cut-backs when the population of oxford grows every year our police shrink! Tackle the problem at the root of the trouble and stop putting blame on people who are trying to make a living.
Posted by: Sponge Bob, Oxford on 3:46pm Fri 23 Feb 07
Local Resident you moved there by choice didn't you? so if its anoying you move away? Sorry its that simple, you wouldnt move 2 doors down the road from a pub then moan and **** when people leave at midnight. Any way close the Kebab vans earlyer you will just have the rubbish dumped there earlyer.
3AM is far to early to close a Kebab van, i always have a kebab when i am in town on the lash (every weekend). In the past 7 years of going to oxford on nights out i have seen 2 fights at Kebab vans, i see far more when waiting a a taxi rank or when everyone is gathering outside a bar/club when been kicked out at the end of the night.
What is been suggested is stupid, making the men who run these vans for a living shut before a big part of their trade arrives is just unfair!
What are they going to suggest next? Stopping the Taxis at 3AM so that people dont start fighting waiting there? Typical of our council, they never think ahead just a quick fix that moves the problem about! They should go into Oxford on a sat night and see where the trouble actually happens......
Local Resident you moved there by choice didn't you? so if its anoying you move away? Sorry its that simple, you wouldnt move 2 doors down the road from a pub then moan and **** when people leave at midnight. Any way close the Kebab vans earlyer you will just have the rubbish dumped there earlyer.
3AM is far to early to close a Kebab van, i always have a kebab when i am in town on the lash (every weekend). In the past 7 years of going to oxford on nights out i have seen 2 fights at Kebab vans, i see far more when waiting a a taxi rank or when everyone is gathering outside a bar/club when been kicked out at the end of the night.
What is been suggested is stupid, making the men who run these vans for a living shut before a big part of their trade arrives is just unfair!
What are they going to suggest next? Stopping the Taxis at 3AM so that people dont start fighting waiting there? Typical of our council, they never think ahead just a quick fix that moves the problem about! They should go into Oxford on a sat night and see where the trouble actually happens......
Posted by: Trevor, oxford on 6:38pm Fri 2 Mar 07
you're a killjoy and a turd, Cllr Ed Turner.
you're a killjoy and a turd, Cllr Ed Turner.
Posted by: Faz, Oxford on 12:23am Sun 4 Mar 07
The kebab vans should be able to trade untill after the clubs close, they provide much needed food and help reduce ques at taxi ranks.....which reminds me about the shortage of taxis especially on the weekends........why dont we have a "independant" survey on taxi demand instead of one being paid for by the the current taxi owners (some of whom have paid over [bold]£100,000[/bold] for the taxi licence yes £100K if there was no demand then why are they paying so much to buy taxi licences?
The kebab vans should be able to trade untill after the clubs close, they provide much needed food and help reduce ques at taxi ranks.....which reminds me about the shortage of taxis especially on the weekends........why dont we have a "independant" survey on taxi demand instead of one being paid for by the the current taxi owners (some of whom have paid over
£100,000 for the taxi licence yes £100K if there was no demand then why are they paying so much to buy taxi licences?
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
