Ice cream man pushed out of spot by council to make way for bike racks

No more Mr Whippy: Ice cream man who has parked in the same spot for nearly 50 years is pushed out by the council to make way for bike racks

• Alan Philipson, 71, has been trading on a spot in Northumberland since 1974

Alan Philipson, 71, has been trading on a popular beauty spot in Hexham, Northumberland since 1974 in his Tyne Valley Ices van.

But the grandfather-of-six has been kicked off the land after Northumberland County Council installed bike racks in his designated parking bay, making him unable to park his vehicle.

The remaining area of the park, in Sele, is a no parking zone and is sprayed with double yellow lines meaning he is unable to set up shop anywhere else. 

After reaching out to council members, Mr Philipson claims he received a letter demanding a sum of money and was told failure to comply with the payment with would result in imprisonment if the business does not cease trading. 

Alan Philipson, 71, who has been whipping up 99’s for nearly 50 years is in a cold war with a council who are trying to boot him off his pitch

The grandfather-of-six (pictured in the 1970s) has been trading on a popular beauty spot in Hexham, Northumberland since 1974 in his Tyne Valley Ices van

But he has been kicked off the land after Northumberland County Council installed bike racks (pictured) in his designated parking bay, making him unable to park his vehicle

Mr Philipson claims the previous council, Tynedale, who were taken over by the current council in 2009, installed and concreted the spot especially for him. 

He added that the previous authority even provided him with a key to the wooden bollard, making him the only person who could remove it to park in the bay. 

He said: ‘It’s pure greed. They sent me a letter demanding I pay them but with no invoice or cost attached. It’s a big bully tactic from the council.

‘When we were under the previous council, Tynedale, before Northumbria took over in 2009, we had no problems and they actively helped us. But since then, everything has changed.

‘It makes me really sad, I’m on my third generation of customers. I serve children now who come with their grandparents, who I served when they were young.

‘Ice cream vans contribute a lot to the national economy, it’s a shame we’re being pushed out. We’re a part of British culture and national identity.’

This isn’t the first time the trader has butted heads with the council as he won a previous battle in 2013 to stay on the pitch and he was also slapped with a parking ticket in 2012 while in his truck.

The ice cream man also claims he does a lot for the local community. He said: ‘We gave out free ice cream during Covid to hospital workers and give water out to overheated children in the park during the summer.

Mr Philipson (pictured serving ice cream in the 1980s) claims the previous council, Tynedale, who were taken over by Northumberland County Council in 2009, installed and concreted the spot especially for him

He added that the previous authority even provided him with a key to the wooden bollard, making him the only person who could remove it to park in the bay

This isn’t the first time the trader has butted heads with the council as he won a previous battle in 2013 to stay on the pitch

‘A young lad fell of his skateboard in the park the other day and guess who he came to for a plaster? My van.

‘We’re eco-friendly and have solar panels. We also turn the engine off in the park.

‘I’ve offered to make a contribution to the community to keep it clean. We’re well loved by the community, it’s a big part of what we do.’

Mr Philipson also claims the land that he is trading on was gifted to the people of Hexham in the 1910’s by Wentworth Canning Blackett Beaumont, 1st Viscount Allendale, who presented Sele and Abbey Grounds to the town of Hexham.

Therefore, the he said that the council have no right to lease it.

He added: ‘I’ve seen the deed, which Northumberland County Council claim to have lost. 

‘It was gifted to the people of Hexham, meaning they don’t own it and cannot lease it. It’s like me leasing someone’s back garden.

‘This isn’t about the money, this is to preserve the land. I’m determined to get my spot back. What they’re doing is wrong.’

A petition to keep Alan at his normal pitch has so far gained over 1,000 signatures.

A Northumberland County Council spokesperson said: ‘Concessions for park traders are let via a competitive tender process with winning bidders being granted a license to trade for a fixed period.

‘The Council continues to be transparent in this process and winning bidders are required to comply with all license conditions, including making annual payments during that period.

‘Breaches of license conditions may result in the Council bringing the license to an end and we would seek to recover any debt owed in the event of a default on agreed payments.’

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