POLLUTION concerns could spell the end of the traditional ice cream van in Southampton's parks.

The City Council has put forward a scheme to ban diesel-engined ice cream vans from its central parks and replace them with electric trailers or fixed units.

The stand has caused more than a raspberry ripple among traders who fear their livelihoods could be threatened under the new plans.

Tomorrow, members of Southampton City Council leisure services committee will be asked to approve measures to re-organise catering services for the central parks and Southampton Common and to seek tendering for the services.

Plans to replace the diesel vans were mooted by the city council in a bid to offer a pollution-free environment in its parks to users and improve its parks image.

It believes the current service is disjointed, noisy and dirty as a result of diesel fumes.

The parks are currently being revamped with a £3.4 million lottery grant, and leisure boss Julian Price wants the ice cream vans to be revamped, offering more hot snacks and drinks as well as a bigger range of ice creams.

"The product range is limited at the moment - we want people to be able to get hot food like baked potatoes in the winter. And the diesel vans pollute the park environment," he said.

The tender for the contract will be advertised this autumn - and if it goes ahead, is expected to bring in higher profits for the council as well as the operator.

"We would all come away happy," said councillor Price.

But the traders who work the area at the moment say the new scheme would put them out of business - as it would cost too much to replace their vans.

Alan Wilde, a spokesman for 12 ice cream sellers who have a council licence to operate in the area, told the Daily Echo earlier this year of their fury at the proposal.

He said: "The council has no respect for tradition.''

Leisure officer Gordon Adams said traders could bid for the tender if they formed a co-operative. "We have been talking to them about this and would welcome a bid."

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