COUNCILLORS have refused to allow a vendor to set up a street stall in Huddersfield town centre.

Mohammed Shahid had asked Kirklees Council for permission to sell fast food at four locations – Outcote Bank; opposite Sainsbury’s on Market Street; the junction of New Street and the ring road and at the front gates of Greenhead Park.

MickXS saw a simple reason why: “Maybe it’s because there is already a cafe in the park, also fast food normally comes in packaging which will create a litter problem.”

But PaulS isn’t so sure: “Food stalls at meal times seem a good idea, as long as they aren’t too scruffy (but if they were they wouldn’t last long as no-one would want to use them).

“The council should have given them at least a temporary (three or six month) licence and then maybe they could have checked up later to see what their employers (ie us) think of the stalls.”

But thinkaboutit has made his or her mind up: “Surely we don’t need fast food at the park gates! Come on, this would be unsightly.”

Seanster has come up with a self-funding concept: “Perhaps they could combine it with a mobile police station, funding such a station with the proceeds from kebabs and the like.”

NorwegianBlue was having none of it: “I’m with the council one this one.

“There are plenty of shops around those locations selling sandwiches, snacks and fast food.

“The owners of those shops have to pay rent, rates and all the rest.

“A stall in a public place would probably avoid a lot of those expenses, allowing the operator to undercut established businesses.

“If he wants to set up a business he should buy or rent proper premises like everybody else.

“And why should he be allowed to set up shop on public land?

“If he wants a market stall he should set up at a proper market.”