A WOKINGHAM business boss has slammed the council for failing to support a popular kebab van which could be forced away from the town.

BBQ King was based at the car park of Wokingham Youth and Community Centre but owner Kenan Mursaloglu was told in November 2019 his permission to sell kebabs and burgers at the site was being removed.

READ MORE: Kebab van set to be forced from its home

This came after an isolated incident in which concerns were raised about a customer smoking cannabis and urinating in the car park, leading to Wokingham Borough Council claiming BBQ King was ‘incompatible’ with its location.

Mr Mursaloglu appealed the refusal and his business has been allowed to trade just outside the centre while he waits for a final decision.

But the way in which Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) went about removing BBQ King’s trading consent has concerned Mr Colin George from Wokingham Business Association.

Emails released via a Freedom of Information request showed:

  • WBC gave Mr Mursaloglu only six days notice he needed to find a new site
  • The leader, deputy leader and director of children’s services all did not support BBQ King’s location
  • Officers were hoping for a “quick win” in removing Mr Mursaloglu, but they conceded “the kebab man is digging in”.
  • One councillor wrote WBC’s decision not to renew BBQ King’s licence “seems rather strange” and “no explanation seems to have been given”.
  • WBC’s corporate leadership team (which includes the chief executive and senior officers) “instructed [officers] to get rid of this van from the youth club car park”

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Reacting to these emails, Mr George told the News: “Wokingham Business Association has tried from the start, to mediate a solution, for Wokingham Borough Council’s (WBC) desire to remove BBQ King Kebab Van from the Wokingham community and Youth Centre car park.

“The Council only gave the Kebab van 6 days’ notice to quit the carpark and the sequence of emails shows the lengths that WBC have gone to remove this trader from his legitimate pitch.

“The trader has always been open to the suggestion of relocating near Wokingham town centre, but [...] no negotiation has been forthcoming or tolerated by WBC, and any requests by Wokingham Business Association to mediate have been rejected so far.”

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WBC has been contacted for comment, and in response, Cllr Wayne Smith said: "The council cannot comment in detail at this time as this is part of an active licencing appeal.

"However, while we recognise this is a difficult situation we do not feel this community centre used by people with special needs and vulnerable people is an appropriate site for a burger van.

“We have given the business six months to look for an alternative location and have been communicating with Mr Mursaloglu throughout.”

BBQ King will learn its fate at a licensing panel meeting on Thursday, June 11, where councillors will decide whether to revoke WBC’s refusal of Mr Mursaloglu’s licence.