Ice Cream vans are told to 'Go Green' in Sheffield
It's part of the city council's plans to be net zero by 2030
Last updated 10th Sep 2024
Ice cream vans will need to stop emitting diesel fumes all day if they want contracts for Sheffield parks.
Sheffield City Council’s charity trustee sub-committee agreed yesterday (September 9) that new contracts offered for ice cream van pitches in three city parks from next spring should contain a requirement that the vans are all electric or will use solar-powered refrigeration if they run on diesel.
To help firms recoup the extra investment involved, the contracts for Endcliffe, Graves and Weston Parks will be extended from the current three years to five or seven years.
Council business manager Dave Rice told the meeting that the equipment required is very expensive for firms to buy. He said that when the contracts go out to tender, it will be a chance to test the market on what can be delivered and get feedback from contractors.
Mr Rice said that installing power supplies that could be used by vans in parks has been ruled out as the costs were higher than expected.
Councillor Mike Chaplin said:
“It will be welcome to parents and grandparents who bring children to parks to get rid of those fumes.”
The new policy is in line with the council’s commitment to reduce city and council emissions to net zero by 2030.