A CONTROVERSIAL curb on ice cream van chimes in Rossendale is set to be given the cold shoulder by councillors.

Eighteen months ago town hall bosses in the Valley imposed a four-second rule on vendors in Rawtenstall, Bacup and Haslingden.

Quiet areas had even been suggested as part of the ice cream vans crack-down, which was brought in to reduce any possible ‘public nuisance’.

But following pressure from the trade, the rule has been dropped in a new street traders policy.

And that is set to be considered by the borough’s licensing committee.

Coun Alan Neal, who represents Healey and Whitworth, said: “It seems like common sense has prevailed.

“They don’t really cause any problems.

“They come, sound their chimes for a few seconds to make people aware that they are there, then they move on.

“They certainly don’t sound their chimes late at night.

“At the end of the day they are providing a public service.

'And times must be hard, with the cost of fuel.”

Stuart Sugarman, the council’s business director, said in a licensing report that the four-second chimes rule had been part of the original code of practice.

He said: “Whilst these are in line with model conditions suggested by central Government, it would be prudent to amend them to read ‘more often or for longer than is reasonably necessary’.”