A councillor who complained about a new sports club cafe near Bristol has become embroiled in a fresh row about “pop up” food traders.
Stoke Gifford councillor Keith Cranney said he received “hate mail” after he opposed the cafe set up by the Aretians RFC in February.
Now he has clashed with officials and a fellow Conservative councillor, who defended the council’s position on the cafe, warning South Gloucestershire would become a “free for all” for traders.
The rugby club opened The A’s Cafe in a converted portacabin in the car park outside its clubrooms in Little Stoke to raise funds and make its food operation Covid safe.
Cllr Cranney complained in March the cafe did not have the correct licence or planning consent to operate, but officials have said it is entitled to operate under current law.
A loophole in licensing law from 1982 means street traders do not need a street trading licence to operate as long as they charge customers to enter an area around their stall.
The Government has also temporarily relaxed planning law during the coronavirus pandemic to…
