I WRITE to complain about Blackburn with Darwen Council and in support of Mr Geoff Hindle who has the ice cream van outside Darwen Market Hall.

He has been there for 22 years. He is good with all age groups and, early this year, he applied to put tables and chairs outside the van.

He was turned down at the beginning and then won when 1,100 people in Darwen signed a petition in support of him.

The chairs and tables looked really nice with their umbrellas. Anyone could use them, not just his customers.

But the outcome was that the council put his rent up by £55 a week, even though he was providing a service for the public.

He could not afford this. It hadn't cost the council anything, so what was the problem?

The seats that the council have provided are being taken over again by all the drunks.

In a letter sent by Assistant Markets Manager Chris Sanderson to all three day market traders, it says: "It is important traders contribute their own ideas."

We all think the way Geoff has been treated is disgraceful.

MRS D SMITH, Snape Street, Darwen.

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