Liverpool Council U-turn in spud seller bike lane row

The cycle lane cuts across the pitch where Mr Dickson parks his spud van

A council has made a U-turn in a row over a jacket potato salesman who said a new bike lane threatened the pitch he has held for almost 20 years.

John Dickson said he faced "losing everything" after he was told to move his pitch when new cycle lanes were installed on London Road in Liverpool.

Mr Dickson, 55, from West Derby, said he had no prior warning or consultation from the council.

Liverpool City Council has now agreed to let the spud van stay put.

John Dickson feared losing his business over a cycle lane row

The cycle lanes were put in three weeks ago as part of the council's STEP scheme, which encourages walking and cycling in the city centre.

Mr Dickson, known locally as 'John the Spud', said he was told he must re-apply for a licence for his spot next to TJ Hughes.

He told Local Democracy Reporter Faye Brown he was advised it was unlikely he would get a licence to trade anywhere near London Road or the city centre, despite having run a successful business since 1999.

He said he arrived for work a few weeks ago and "realised that overnight someone had put a cycle lane right through my pitch that I've had for 20 years.

"I'll lose all my footfall if I move and this is all I've got. I live by my career. I've got nothing else," he said.

'Clearly gone wrong'

"What angers me is that they haven't offered me a like-for-like alternative," Mr Dickson added.

Councillor James Noakes, transport and highways cabinet member, said: "Sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and say something has clearly gone wrong here."

"So we are looking again at the cycle route and how we help people travel more sustainably in that area. Mr Dickson can rest assured he can remain serving the public as he has done for many years.

"I'm disappointed I wasn't approached about this, or such issues were not picked up when the consultation documents were sent around to councillors and others. However, I hope it has been addressed now."

Mr Dickson had been told to re-apply for a licence for his spot next to TJ Hughes in London Road