Ludlow farm shop's frustration as 'red tape' prevents mobile service operation

Red tape is preventing a Ludlow farm shop being able to have a mobile operation.

Bull Ring Farm Shop, which opened earlier this year next to The Bull Hotel, is a venture run by Evans Family Grocers and Lizzie's Layers. The aim was to create a shop for local people, primarily being a greengrocers, but with a few extra essentials that the owners felt the town needs.

However, due to access issues and the lack of parking, plus the fact that some people struggle to get to the shops, the owners have proposed running a mobile farm shop that would run three days a week.

This, they say, would stop for around 30 minutes at each location.

At a previous Ludlow Town Council (LTC) meeting, councillors have expressed support the initiative due to its potential social and economic benefits.

However, the council couldn't amend policy or approve such a proposal at the same meeting in which public representations were made. Any policy change, say LTC, requires formal consideration, consultation, and due diligence.

And it's that hold up that is proving frustrating for the owners.

Therefore, James Evans and David Powell, who run the business, attended a Policy and Finance Committee meeting on Monday (July 20) to try and move the situation along.

"We're trying to progress a mobile shop to help people who can't necessarily get to us or get up the steps," said Mr Evans.

"We're trying to provide a community service. We've been to Services [Committee] once and been to Full Council.

"We've come all the way back and it's quite frustrating, especially when on numerous occasions there's ice cream vans pulling up anywhere, causing very unnecessary obstruction for little purpose at all.

"At the end of the day, we're trying to provide something to help the community. I need to know what you [LTC] need from us to progress this further."

The town clerk, Gina Wilding, said that streets and pitches need to be listed and designated so officers can safely write permits.

"The council needs to identify extra designated streets and then identify where the stopping points will be," she said.

"Then go in consultation with Shropshire Council to make sure those sites will be safe and get their approval. Once that is done, it will be added to the policy.

"Policy can be amended, but it needs to go through the right process. There has to be some consultation with groups in Ludlow. But that can be done after we've assessed the viability."

A report sent to the committee said that the only designated streets in Ludlow are Bull Ring, Tower Street, King Street, High Street, Church Lane, Harp Lane, and Castle Square.

Therefore, that creates difficult for a travelling shop operating around residential areas such as Sandpits, Foldgate and Fishmore.

Any changes would need to be authorised by Shropshire Council due to the unitary authority giving LTC delegated authority to undertake street trading.

The current policy only has one designated vehicle pitch, with the other pitches designed for stalls, gazebos, or static traders in the town centre.

Therefore, a travelling shop, according to the report "does not fit nearly into the existing framework".

Councillor Kathy Howell said: "There are an awful lot of people in the town who do have difficulty getting to the shops, so it's in the interests of everybody if we get this sorted out."

Councillor Robert Owen, who chaired the meeting, asked if the clerk could contact Shropshire Council, and alongside the farm shop, identify the streets which they wish to use. This, he said, will then brought back to the committee with the amended policy.

The committee approved the proposal.