Trading licence refusal puts burger shed at risk

3 hours ago

Shariqua AhmedPeterborough

News image — The business was set up three years ago in a converted shipping container by Adam Miller and his partner Amber Higgs

Higgsy's Amber wearing a black hoodie and Adam wearing a black hoodie- smiling for a selfie in front of their burger shed. — The business was set up three years ago in a converted shipping container by Adam Miller and his partner Amber Higgs

The owner of a family-run burger shed that operates from a lay-by said the council refusing it a trading licence was "upsetting".

Higgsy's burger shed at Norman Cross in Yaxley, near Peterborough, was set up by Adam Miller and his partner Amber Higgs in a converted shipping container in 2022.

Miller said Huntingdonshire District Council said his customers' cars had damaged the road surface of the lay-by and the shipping container had increased in size since the business opened.

Miller has appealed against the decision, which is due to be heard on Tuesday, and the council told the BBC it would comment on the case once the appeal had been heard.

The council refused to renew Higgsy's licence in February, after Cambridgeshire County Council's highways team deemed the site unsuitable for trade due to safety concerns and damage to the highway.

It was further noted that queues of vehicles constantly extended from the lay-by onto the live carriageway, creating a clear risk to road users.

The county council, which owns the land the lay-by is on, said the business shed had increased significantly in size beyond what was originally permitted in 2022.

In addition, a lean-to/gazebo with seating has been erected for customers without permission from the council increasing the footprint again.

Tom Jackson/BBC A dark brown wooden burger shed with a blue Higgsy's sign on it. To the left of the shed, covered by a roof, here is a seating area with two picnic tables. Amber, a woman in a black shirt, is serving customers from inside. Adam can be seen preparing burgers. Three customers are queuing at the serving hatch. — Higgsy's burger shed reopened in 2022

In response, Miller said: "The point about increased traffic in the lay-by negatively impacting the road surface – well I don't think there's been any scheduled maintenance completed in that lay-by probably for years and the road is falling to pieces.

"The shipping container is exactly the same 10-ft steel container and it has not moved an inch since we installed it in 2022.

"Honestly, it's crazy, but also quite upsetting... I don't think it's a very positive environment for a company to be placed in."

Miller said he has received "overwhelming support" from customers and was determined to keep the business open even if it meant finding a new location.

The appeal would be discussed on Tuesday by Huntingdonshire District Council.

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