Stop the victimisation by Richmond Council

Mr Vella has been a resident of Richmond Borough for 30 years and owns a family run business that has been operating for over 60 years selling ice-cream in the local area. He has repeatedly requested to be licensed by Richmond council to sell ice-cream out of his van.

Every application he made was refused without valid reasons. The council seem to issue licenses to most if not all applicants. He has even been fined twice by the council for selling ice-cream, to the tune of over £8000, and has offered to donate 20% of his profits to the soldiers that have lost their arms and legs in the recent Afghan conflict in order to assist the cause and get the license.

Unlike some other operators who won't consider the safety of children, Mr Vella is extremely experienced at his job and ensures all his customers are safe and treated with respect - and at times even gives free ice-cream away to children who can't afford it.

"...They have taken away my livelihood and victimised a hard working local trader. We have been here for two generations. I am only trying to make a living selling ice-cream, been doing this since I was 7. They give licences to everyone else all around Richmond apart from me..."

We have already received 2,000 signatures. Help him get 10,000 to take it to central government to get a judicial review and perhaps finally get a licence. Help him find out the REAL reason why he has been refused a license for over 5 years.