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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Ice cream van outside school

118 replies

Yamyoid · 01/05/2013 20:04

Aibu to be pissed off about the ice cream van parking right outside the school gates?
Would it bu to complain to the council?

OP posts:
NotSoNervous · 01/05/2013 20:05

YABU you don't need to buy one and there are plenty of people that do

SantanaLopez · 01/05/2013 20:05

YABU you don't have to buy from them.

It's been done for years anyway.

MissyMooandherBeaverofSteel · 01/05/2013 20:06

Would you complain if there was a shop across the road from the school?

SkinnybitchWannabe · 01/05/2013 20:07

Theres always one outside my 2ds school. They have only ever asked for once ince and I simply said no.

TidyDancer · 01/05/2013 20:07

Complain on what grounds?!

Sallystyle · 01/05/2013 20:08

We had an ice cream van, well sweets van, parked outside my kids school and the school and council couldn't do anything.

The teachers were pissed so they wrote letters home to all parents begging them not to buy anything from there so he will leave. They were really concerned about the unhealthy message it sends out to children and all the queues they were getting from the high-schoolers coming across.

Everyone boycotted it and he went within a week.. now he parks at the corner of my house instead.

A lot of parents complained so you are not the only one who has an issue with this.

AgentProvocateur · 01/05/2013 20:08

Where else will the children but their single cigarettes from?

SodaStreamy · 01/05/2013 20:10

Is it a harmless ice cream van or one that sells cigs and drugs?

Justforlaughs · 01/05/2013 20:10

Providing that he is not causing an obstruction to children crossing the road then YABU to complain. You don't have to buy one (although I find it very difficult to walk past!) and you certainly don't have to buy your DC one (unless you have one yourself of course). My advice is to eat yours before you meet them Wink

Original poster
Yamyoid · 01/05/2013 20:13

No, and there's a lovely traditional sweet shop just across the road but it's not so in-your-face. There's something about ice cream vans that makes kids want the stuff.
It's only been there a couple of days and it makes me the baddy because I'm saying ''no you can't have an ice cream", because dc's not having one every day.
I think lots of parents will back down for a quiet life. And I probably will on hot days, especially if his friends are having one.

OP posts:
anothershittynickname · 01/05/2013 20:13

Sending out an unhealthy message? Really? It's an ice cream FFS!!

Are kids not allowed treats anymore?

Besides, you can say no you know!

YABU!

Sirzy · 01/05/2013 20:14

We had one park up on school grounds at lunch times when I was at secondary school!

Its quite simple, just say no and walk past if you don't want them to have something.

HollyBerryBush · 01/05/2013 20:15

They are licenced an are designated 'pitches' by the council

KatyDid02 · 01/05/2013 20:15

YABU. You can say no to buying an ice cream for your children and when you do want to it is convenient.

Original poster
Yamyoid · 01/05/2013 20:17

Boycotting is a good idea. Will see what happens. I won't complain to the council, I know that's a little unreasonable but it's a massive pain in the arse because of the whining I'll now have to put up with every night.
Actually, where it's parked does get in the way but not an obstruction as such.

OP posts:
scaevola · 01/05/2013 20:17

"right outside the school gates"

Well, if it's in the "school keep clear" zone, causing some other obstruction, or making it hard for children to cross safely, then yes making a safety complaint (or just asking a traffic warden to stroll by at throwing out time) is definitely a good idea.

bollockstoit · 01/05/2013 20:17

It will give you an opportunity to say no to your children. Try it!

ageofgrandillusion · 01/05/2013 20:18

YABU. You don't have to buy one. Whatever happened to personal responsibility?

timidviper · 01/05/2013 20:18

There was always an ice cream van near my DCs school and I think it's quite nice to have it there. The children get used to it and do not ask every day after a while.

I think you're being a bit of a killjoy tbh. Just say no if you don't want them to have it.

marjproops · 01/05/2013 20:19

unhealthy- fumes protruding from the exhaust pipe, toddlers level.

person in van who prob has filthy hands touching cones.

kids crossing behind and not only inhaling fumes but cant see oncoming traffic.

Original poster
Yamyoid · 01/05/2013 20:21

That's good to know holly. But what about the ones that just drive round?

I'm quite surprised how many people think I'm bu. I wouldn't mind so much if it was parked a bit further away.

OP posts:
TigOldBitties · 01/05/2013 20:22

Yabu. Had one outside my schools the entire time and same now for my dcs. We also have one that goes down our road every evening, March-September. Just say no or say only on x day.

My DC were normally into the sweets we had at home as I bought their favourites rather than just some random bits or ice cream.

Original poster
Yamyoid · 01/05/2013 20:24

Hmm Bollocks. Of course.

OP posts:
MissyMooandherBeaverofSteel · 01/05/2013 20:24

There is a sweet shop right across the road from the school? I don't see the difference between a sweet shop being there and an ice cream van being there tbh.

LaGuardia · 01/05/2013 20:25

Have him killed. That'll teach the cheeky bugger.