Angry kiosk holders have slammed Maldon District Council for allowing an outside business to sell ice cream in the town's Promenade Park.

Lynn Dogan, who runs Ripples Ice Cream and Coffee Bar in Maldon High Street, has successfully applied to the council for permission to operate a Stop Me and Buy One service selling home made ice cream from a 1924-type bicycle.

But traders who pay thousands of pounds in rent and rates each year say they will lose business and claim it is the thin end of the wedge.

Mark Harrison, who has been running an ice cream kiosk for 22 years, said: "I didn't think the bylaws allowed that. I have heard about it through the grapevine and shall be protesting in the strongest possible terms.

"There are seven kiosks here already selling ice cream and there is not enough trade for all of us.

"Once you allow one mobile business, others will follow. It is a disturbing trend."

Mr Harrison's mother Marjorie runs a kiosk that sells hot food. She said: "Next it will be baskets of cold drinks then hot dogs.

"It should not be allowed. We are the ones set up here with all the equipment. We can cope with the trade. There were no letters of consultation sent to us by the council. It is grossly unfair.

And Colin Charlick said the whole situation was "a total disgrace."

"The council don't give a damn about us. We are supposed to have sole selling rights."

John Knight, director of community services for the council, said it had been agreed that the council could negotiate terms with Mrs Dogan. The amount she is to be charged and where the bike will be situated are among the matters that have to be agreed.

"We are sensitive to the existing traders and would not let her be close to the existing kiosks. However it is the council's park and we can allow whoever we like there.

"Other caterers do already come in for special events."

Mrs Dogan said she was not treading on anyone's toes or trying to take away their business.

"I support local traders by buying some of the ingredients I use locally and the ice cream is a Maldon product."

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