A kebab van owner who is being forced to move off land is appealing for a new plot to trade from.

Mr Bilal Boztepe, who owns Arborfield Kebab, has been described by residents as a ‘pillar of the community’ after serving from his van for 14 years.

The business owner, who has traded from the Royal British Legion on Eversley Road since 2010, has bought land to the South of Baird Road in a bid to stay operating.

A decision will be taken by Wokingham Borough Council’s Licensing and Appeals Hearings Subcommittee on Wednesday, October 23.

In his application Mr Boztepe wrote: “I have been trading here since 2010 until now, however after the new chairman came, he decided he didn’t want to have the van on the land anymore, therefore I am applying for a new license on my own land.”

The van serves kebabs, burgers and chips, as well as hot drinks and soft drinks.

It would have the same opening hours of 7:30am to 11pm.

Ahead of the meeting, the council has received more comments in support of Mr Boztepe’s move compared to objections.

A total of 51 representations have been made in favour of his application, while 31 were received in objection.

A petition in support of the takeaway van has also been signed by 746 people.

Those in support of Mr Boztepe argued that it is unfair that he must move on from the British legion land, and that he has served as a ‘pillar of the community’ for more than a decade.

Another wrote: “The food is excellent, and the staff are incredibly courteous and helpful. It would be a huge loss to the residents of Arborfield if the allocation for a new site was turned down.”

But objectors have argued that the new site, located on countryside land, would have negative impacts on road safety, traffic congestion and exacerbate anti-social behaviour.

Many said that since the opening of the Co-Op store on Baird Road, traffic has become ‘overflowing’.

Wokingham Borough Council’s planning department has objected to the application as permission was not sought with officers.

The department has recommended that the applicant withdrew the licensing application to seek planning permission first.

The Arborfield and Newlands Parish Council and ward member for Evendons West Councillor Adrian Betteridge have also raised concerns.

Cllr Betteridge said that the area has ‘existing issues with anti-social behaviour, including littering, which street trading could well exacerbate’.

The Liberal Democrat added that the applicant has a ‘good reputation with many in the community’, and that he supports the continued trade, but in a different location.