Snack vans face schools sales ban

The new regulations are to be brought in across North Lanarkshire within weeks, and will create ‘no snack zones’ around all secondary schools in the district.

Snack vans selling hot and cold food, fish and chips and ice cream, will be blocked from trading within 250 metres of school boundaries as part of the new street licence condition.

The measure was approved by the North Lanarkshire Council’s corporate services committee, following the decision by council in March to introduce a ban.

Committee convener Councillor William Hogg said: “The condition will apply to new applicants for street traders’ licences from the beginning of June. Existing licence holders will receive a letter notifying them of the proposed change to the conditions of their licence.

“The committee was unanimous in agreeing the change.”

Education convener Councillor Jim Logue proposed the ban.

He said: “This is welcome news and something I’ve been actively campaigning to see happen for a number of years.

“Scotland is facing an obesity crisis and we must do all we can to reverse the current trends.

“Of course this measure alone won’t do that, but it does send out a clear message that this authority takes its responsibility seriously when it comes to looking after the health of our young people.”