Ice cream vans banned over environmental concerns
Scientists warn the black carbon released by ice cream vans can stunt the growth of children’s lungs and trigger asthma attacks.
16:14, 1 MAY 2019
Ice cream vans are being banned from parts of London because they churn out “harmful” chemicals that damage people’s health and are toxic for the environment, strict new rules say.
The vehicles, most of which run on diesel and black carbon, must keep their engines running even while stationary so that on-board freezers work and ice creams do not melt.
But under the new rules, which come into effect today, Camden council will put up “no ice cream trading” signs and hand out fines for anyone caught selling the sweet snack, TheMirror reports.
Westminster council, which suffers from the worst air pollution in the country, has also recently been working to deter vehicles from running an engine when a vehicle has stopped, particularly around schools.
Central London councils have in recent years been under pressure to help reduce air pollution around the capital, as experts warn of the drastic effect it is having on London children's longterm health.
The vans are in the councils' crosshairs because they typically idle their engines in order while parked in order to keep the power running to chill the frozen icy treats they serve up on London's streets.
Westminster City Council has already long banned the ice cream vans from parking in areas owned by the Royal Parks like Hyde Park, instead allocating pitches for the vehicles with access to electricity so they don't have to keep their engines switched on.
Ice cream vans are already banned from lingering too long by the London Local Authorities Act, which must not stay in any location during trading for 15 minutes or longer, and cannot return to the same location or street on the same day.
"This is a serious health issue"
The move to ban Mr Frosty has come from a number of boroughs home to some of the capital's most polluted streets, which have been actively ramping up their anti-idling campaigns.
Research shows an typical vehicle idling its engine produces enough exhaust emissions to fill 150 balloons with harmful chemicals every minute.
Camden Council's spokesman told the Standard the authority would experiment with allowing ice cream trading where vans will be permitted to operate so long as their engines are switched off.
It comes as many London councils consider explore adding more electricity power points around parks and markets, and central boroughs face pressure to install more electric vehicle charging points.
The councils' move on ice cream vans come as London Mayor Sadiq Khan's controversial Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) policy comes into force, which will also affect the ice cream vans.
Drivers in the capital face fees of £12.50 to enter the capital's innermost roads if they are driving older, polluting vehicles.
That comes on top of the congestion charge that affects central London during business hours, but the zone will be extended to the whole of inner London within the North and South Circular roads from October 2012.
Green Party London Assembly member Caroline Russell told the Standard: “No one wants to be the fun police or see people lose their businesses.
“But people don’t want a side order of asthma with their ice cream. This is a serious health issue. The Ulez charge has helped but we can’t have a situation where you can pay to pollute."
Many central London councils are already enforcing anti-idling rules.
