Hounslow's Licensing Panel has approved the renewal of a street trading license for Healthy Bite, a food stall located on Chiswick High Road, despite facing opposition from a local councillor and residents.

The decision, made at a meeting on January 6, 2025, allows Healthy Bite to continue selling falafel wraps, chicken wraps, halloumi wraps, rice with vegetables, salads, soups, fresh juices, and soft drinks from its stall adjacent to 253 Chiswick High Road between 10:00 and 16:00, seven days a week. Healthy Bite has been trading at the site since 2020 with previous temporary licenses, and the panel noted the lack of any official complaints against them.

The application for a six-month extension to the temporary street trading license initially faced objections. Councillor Joanna Biddolph argued that there were already sufficient traders in the area selling similar goods, raising concerns about competition for brick-and-mortar businesses. She cited Clause 2.10.d of the council's Street Trading Policy: There are sufficient traders trading in the street, or at premises adjoining it, in the articles, things or services in which the applicant wishes to trade.

Councillor Biddolph also cited potential health and safety issues and cleanliness at the stall. Two residents echoed these concerns, with one citing potential congestion and the other raising concerns about food safety and hygiene.

However, Hounslow Highways and the council's Transport Team supported the application. The Transport Team requested a condition be added to the license, ensuring deliveries to the stall do not involve vehicles mounting the pavement.

Numerous residents and businesses in Chiswick also wrote to the council in support of the application.

The Licensing Panel, comprised of Councillor Aftab Siddiqui (appointed Chair), Councillors Gabriella Giles and Samina Nagra, carefully considered all representations. According to the Decisions Monday 06-Jan-2025 19.30 Licensing Panel document, the panel noted that Healthy Bite had been trading at the site since 2020 with previous temporary licenses. They also acknowledged the stall had a four-star food safety rating from the London Borough of Hounslow Food Safety Department and complied with safety regulations, including gas safety certificates, food safety and hygiene certifications, and a waste collection contract with Lampton Services.

The Licensing Panel considered the objections from the ward councillor and residents, as well as the support from other residents and businesses. The decision document states: The Licensing Panel carefully considered all the relevant information including: Written and oral representations submitted by all the parties. Oral representations made by the parties during the licensing Panel hearing.

The panel addressed concerns about competition, noting the location of the stall and establishments already present. They also considered hygiene, noting the four-star rating and the applicant's use of a portable sink and local washroom facilities. The panel also considered the width of the pavement and public safety, concluding that the pavement was broad enough to allow for safe pedestrian flow.

The panel decided to grant the application, amending standard conditions by deleting conditions 48 & 49 of the temporary street trading license standard conditions. The applicant was reminded to ensure full compliance with food safety and hygiene requirements and all applicable temporary street trading license standard conditions.

Conditions 48 and 49, prior to their removal, pertained to identification cards and the return of council-issued badges. Specifically:

  • Condition 48: The holder, or any person employed to work on the stall, shall at all times carry with them the identification card issued by Hounslow whilst trading from the pitch.
  • Condition 49: The holder shall return any Council issued identification badges and licences to Licensing Services immediately on revocation or surrender of this Licence. Street Trading Conditions

The Public reports pack Monday 06-Jan-2025 19.30 Licensing Panel provided to the attendees included the OrderofBusiness, MO Guidance on Declaring Interests - May 2022, and Street Trading Policy.