College takes on kebab van (From The Oxford Times)

College takes on kebab van

6:00pm Saturday 17th March 2012 in Oxford By Oliver Evans , covering Banbury. Call me on 01865 425271

A SECOND Oxford college is squaring up for a battle with a city kebab van over rowdy customers.

Oriel College says the Mehdi’s van in High Street is causing “great stress” to college residents as revellers flock to it when pubs and clubs shut.

It says the generator is very noisy and the van regularly does not use the spot it has Oxford City Council permission to park in.

The council said licence breaches have been found. Councillors could revoke trading permission as it is up for renewal. at the end of the month.

Oriel lodge team leader Dickie Bird said customer noise went on as late as 4am and “causes great stress to those affected as it is constant and loud”.

He said: “I hope that something can be done to address these problems as some of the Oriel students are in their final year with very important exams to study for.”

In a letter to the council, Mr Bird said the van was often parked by the Brasenose College gates instead of its allocated marked bay near Scrivens Opticians.

He said: “The reason that he gives is that when he arrives to set up that somebody is parked in the allocated slot.

“We do not want to affect the trading of the van but we do want the owner to abide by the rules.”

A council report said officers who inspected the van at 11pm on February 8 found it in breach of a number of conditions. Two male workers were not registered and the licence was not on show and could not be provided. Officers have met the owner over concerns.

Mehdi Karrouchi’s six-month licence, which allows him to trade to 3am, Sunday to Thursday, and 4am Friday and Saturday, expires on March 31.

We contacted Mr Karrouchi but he had not responded at the time of going to press.

The council’s licensing and registration sub-committee will be asked to make a decision at 5pm on Tuesday at the Town Hall in St Aldates. The public can attend.

Pembroke College has been complaining about McCoys kebab van in St Aldate’s since 2003. It says students “run the gauntlet to get home” as revellers flock round the van, but last year failed again to get it moved.