71-year-old ice-cream man forced to leave spot he's been at for 48 years.

Alan Philipson has been selling ice-creams to generations of Hexham residents from his Tyne Valley Ices van since 1974. For almost half a century, the 71-year-old grandad-of-six has been a staple in Sele Park, providing the community with delicious 99s.

Unfortunately, Alan has been kicked off the land after Northumberland County Council installed bike racks in his designated parking bay. According to Alan, the previous council authority, Tynedale, had provided him with a key to the wooden bollard, allowing him to park in the bay exclusively.

“When we were under Tynedale, before Northumbria took over in 2009, we had no problems and they actively helped us,” said Alan. “But since then, everything has changed. It makes me really sad, I am on my third generation of customers.”

The remaining area of the park is a no parking zone, with double yellow lines sprayed on the ground. Alan has reached out to council members, but he claims he was sent a letter demanding a sum of money, threatening him with imprisonment if he does not cease trading.

“It is pure greed. They sent me a letter demanding I pay them but with no invoice or cost attached. It is a big bully tactic from the council,” Alan said.

Fortunately, the Hexham community has rallied behind him. A petition to keep Alan at his normal pitch has so far gained more than 1,000 signatures, showing how much he has done for the town over the years. He has given out free ice-creams to hospital workers during the pandemic and provided a helping hand for children in the park. Alan even offered to make a contribution to the community to keep it clean.

“We are eco-friendly and have solar panels. We also turn the engine off in the park. We are well loved by the community, it is a big part of what we do,” Alan said.

A Northumberland County Council spokesperson said that concessions for park traders are let via a competitive tender process, and that winning bidders are required to comply with all license conditions. Breaches of license conditions may result in the council bringing the license to an end, and they would seek to recover any debt owed in the event of a default on agreed payments.

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