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Burger man gets the boot
4:08pm Thursday 2nd August 2007
A burger van may be forced to shut down after a row erupted over who owns the motorway layby it sits in.
Tony Jackson has been running the popular Vanburger trailer in a layby on the A26 for more than seven years.
In that time the business has gone from strength to strength, offering everything from burgers to breakfasts and salads to passing motorists and nearby workers.
Mr Jackson says he has transformed the woodland site, in South Heighton, near Seaford, which was once a haven for fly-tippers.
The 55-year-old has also built a shack on the land facing the trailer's hatch for customers to sit down.
Also known as Van's Bacon Crematorium, it has become one of the most popular places to eat breakfast in the area.
But now Mr Jackson faces a battle to keep his livelihood after Glynde Estates made claim to the land and sent him a letter telling him to move on.
He said: "This is not just an ordinary food trailer, it is a bit quirky and eccentric and something original. I have hundreds of regular customers and the van is a part of the community.
"The land was used for fly-tipping before I set up here. I made inquiries at the land registry and nothing showed up for any owner having claim on the site.
"I have made a small cabin which Lewes District Council are aware of and I have a log burner and some seating for all day breakfasts. I am not a greedy man and I love my job, I just want to be left alone.
"Glynde Estates told me I have to leave but I am refusing. They haven't even proved they own the plot. They don't even want to do anything with the land, so I have no idea why they would want to force me out of business."
Mr Jackson's customers are up in arms over the news and have labelled Glynde Estates a "disgrace".
Graham Simpson, 54, from Seaford, said: "I come here every day for breakfast and it's so good I would bring my mother here. The food is top notch and I think it adds to the area, it's really different.
"Tony is genuine bloke and even gives some of the workers credit if they can't afford their breakfast. I think it's a disgrace that Glynde Estates are trying to turf him out. It shouldn't be allowed."
A spokeswoman for Lewes District Council confirmed Vanburger had glowing reports from the Environmental Health Officer regarding the preparation, storage, and cleanliness of the food and premises.
She said: "We have also looked into who owns the land but we can't find any records. We know the Highways Agency are fully aware of Mr Jackson's van and have no problem with it.
"As far as we are concerned it would be down to Glynde Estates to prove they own the land."
Glynde Estates refused to comment.
Your Say YourArgus
ssa, Btn says...
4:46pm Thu 2 Aug 07
mark wrote:you're a miserable git! sget a life mate!
These people are trespassing on land. They pay no rent, no business rates and no money for the up-keep of the land they occupy. The county is covered with converted trailers selling food of questionable quality. There shoudl be a major clamp down on them. Imagine living near them - awful smells all day!
Egg, Brighton says...
4:51pm Thu 2 Aug 07
MrDill, lake district says...
5:31pm Thu 2 Aug 07
trev, Yorkshire says...
6:37pm Thu 2 Aug 07
scott, london says...
6:43pm Thu 2 Aug 07
there's no other facilities worth stopping for in that area, and it seems a shame to prevent an honest trader from operating when it hurts no one.
Pete, Brighton says...
6:44pm Thu 2 Aug 07
mark wrote:Just a few points about this comment. The council and Highways Agency are fully aware of the presence of his business which has been visited by and received favourable reports from the Council's Environmental Health Dept. It is likely that the council will have billed him for business rates in this case. Furthermore it would appear from the article that Mr Jackson has been looking after this particular piece of land and has transformed it from a place where people fly-tip. Who would he pay the rent or upkeep money to anyway? There seems to be no record of who actually owns it. Finally- judging from the testimonials in the article and on this page, your comment regarding "food of questionable quality" seems to be somewhat ill-informed and possibly malicious in intent. May I suggest that in future you read the articles fully and engage your brain before commenting on them.
These people are trespassing on land. They pay no rent, no business rates and no money for the up-keep of the land they occupy.
The county is covered with converted trailers selling food of questionable quality. There shoudl be a major clamp down on them. Imagine living near them - awful smells all day!
Foolius, Lancs. says...
6:45pm Thu 2 Aug 07
Glynde Estates are trying this because they can.
Dave, M10 Layby says...
6:47pm Thu 2 Aug 07
The Bacon Crem should be allowed to continue, unhindered by this kind of idiotic bureaucracy
Me, England says...
6:54pm Thu 2 Aug 07
Jam Master 90Nz0, The internet says...
6:56pm Thu 2 Aug 07
James Carter, b3taland says...
6:57pm Thu 2 Aug 07
Cap'n T, /talk says...
6:59pm Thu 2 Aug 07
^this^, Birmingham says...
7:03pm Thu 2 Aug 07
ted, Hunts says...
7:04pm Thu 2 Aug 07
As for Glynde Estates, I have never been there. So I cannot comment on what they bring to the community.
Jonti Wolf, West Midlands says...
7:08pm Thu 2 Aug 07
Paul Curry, Brighton says...
7:12pm Thu 2 Aug 07
Disgusting.
Beth Hart, Luton says...
7:24pm Thu 2 Aug 07
I hope common sense rules out and that Mr Jackson is able to keep running his business in the way he has for years.
martin, brighton says...
7:49pm Thu 2 Aug 07
,alls orts of stuff there and what he has replaced it with is nothing short of remarkable.Just leave the guy alone,if the council spent more time catching housing benefit cheats and spent a lot less on company cars and ridiculous meetings then things would be a lot better.
Della, Brussels, belgium says...
7:58pm Thu 2 Aug 07
tiojaime, javea SPAIN says...
8:00pm Thu 2 Aug 07
It is very good...keep going please
james, East Sussex says...
8:09pm Thu 2 Aug 07
Glynde Estates should be ashamed of themselves, for the ignorant, heavy-handed and frankly unconscionable position they have taken.
I can only hope and pray they have a change of heart - Mr Jackson certainly deserves better, if not for his sake then for the people who travel through South Heighton and have shared a meal at his friendly burger van.
Lewis, London says...
8:23pm Thu 2 Aug 07
However, I've been to this van on many occasions, I've brought my girlfriend and her daughter here, and it's quite simply the best roadside food I've ever tasted.
The first poster cannot possibly know what he is talking about, and the estate owner is simply land-grabbing where they see an opportunity.
Tony himself is a legend and should be left in peace to carry on providing his top-notch food and banter to the good folk of the area.
SAVE THE VAN.
Richard Whyley, Hoghton Regis says...
8:50pm Thu 2 Aug 07
james Hart, East Sussex says...
9:15pm Thu 2 Aug 07
http://www.petitiono
nline.com/vanburgr/p
etition.html
Thank you.
Juan Albion, Omemee Ontario says...
3:56am Fri 3 Aug 07
Bill, Tarring says...
10:06am Fri 3 Aug 07
This looks to me to be either good old fashioned gangsterism, running the opposition run out of town; or an assertion of feudal rights where the Lord of the Manor is able to close down any business he/she doesnt like or feels competes with the Manors interests. This is regardless of whether or not the manor owns the land on which the business operates.
I hope the Argus keeps an eye on this Now who was it said You cant buck the market? Looks like Tonys doing better business than the tea rooms, deservedly so, and someones getting jealous. The market favours Vanburger, Tonys done a fantastic job building something from nothing and this must never be the reason, directly or indirectly, that he closes down. I look forward to a new branch, Vanburger2, opening soon at a layby near Worthing
Annette & Tony, Denton says...
10:17am Fri 3 Aug 07
melfromhove, hove says...
10:47am Fri 3 Aug 07
Highwayman, The grass verge says...
10:48am Fri 3 Aug 07
John B, says...
2:31pm Fri 3 Aug 07
mark wrote:A big thank you for your comments Glyde Estates! ( I know you declined earlier )
These people are trespassing on land. They pay no rent, no business
rates and no money for the up-keep of the land they occupy.
The county is covered with converted trailers selling food of
questionable quality. There shoudl be a major clamp down on them.
Imagine living near them - awful smells all day!
Anonymoose, Brighton says...
2:47pm Fri 3 Aug 07
mark wrote:You, sir, are a complete moron. I'd like to see things from your point of view, but I can't get my head that far up my own ****.
These people are trespassing on land. They pay no rent, no business rates and no money for the up-keep of the land they occupy. The county is covered with converted trailers selling food of questionable quality. There shoudl be a major clamp down on them. Imagine living near them - awful smells all day!
Stupid jokes aside - get a grip! He's CLEANED the layby up, and is there with full knowledge and therefore presumeably consent of the relevant authorities.
Fly tipping costs the councils an incredible amount of money so this is actually saving the taxpayer money.
The messages of support above clearly show that this van is valued by the local community.
richard, sussex by the sea says...
2:55pm Fri 3 Aug 07
mr.T, hove says...
3:57pm Fri 3 Aug 07
flo, Ramsey says...
6:10pm Fri 3 Aug 07
ssa wrote:i know this guy and he is great, also if the other don't mind it and love his service they should leave him alone, he is not doing any harm and it says he has been there for more than seven years so why make a fuss know?
mark wrote:you\'re a miserable git! sget a life mate!
These people are trespassing on land. They pay no rent, no business rates and no money for the up-keep of the land they occupy. The county is covered with converted trailers selling food of questionable quality. There shoudl be a major clamp down on them. Imagine living near them - awful smells all day!
Alex, Hove says...
6:51pm Fri 3 Aug 07
mr.T wrote:Yeah it`s on the A26 Beddingham - Newhaven road. Head north out of Newhaven near Newhaven Town station level crossing and turn left. It`s about a mile up that road on the left just where the fields start. I went there while doing my PCV license training and the food is the best, plus the seating area has tables to sit at plus a wood burning stove which is really nice in winter. There is even a garden out the back. really it`s no bigger than a small back yard.
can someone tell me where this burger van is so i can visit,taste the menu and give my support? thanks
I hope the tea rooms go out of business for this. It has to be some petty bureaucrat desk-jockey doing this just sitting in some office looking at paperwork with no grasp of the reality on the ground. Besides, Glynde estates cannot own the lay-by, this would surely be the property of the Highways Agency
PS, says...
6:52pm Fri 3 Aug 07
Alex, says...
6:55pm Fri 3 Aug 07
Alex wrote:I forgot to mention it`s left at the mini roundabout just by the level crossing or turn left at the next roundabout, which is at Denton Corner (in which case you would follow that road and turn right at the end).
mr.T wrote: can someone tell me where this burger van is so i can visit,taste the menu and give my support? thanksYeah it`s on the A26 Beddingham - Newhaven road. Head north out of Newhaven near Newhaven Town station level crossing and turn left. It`s about a mile up that road on the left just where the fields start. I went there while doing my PCV license training and the food is the best, plus the seating area has tables to sit at plus a wood burning stove which is really nice in winter. There is even a garden out the back. really it`s no bigger than a small back yard. I hope the tea rooms go out of business for this. It has to be some petty bureaucrat desk-jockey doing this just sitting in some office looking at paperwork with no grasp of the reality on the ground. Besides, Glynde estates cannot own the lay-by, this would surely be the property of the Highways Agency
Tony Jackson, Seaford says...
6:57pm Fri 3 Aug 07
Alex, says...
8:34pm Fri 3 Aug 07
Tony Jackson wrote:You`re welcome Tony! Don`t let them push you around. I`ll come out there at some point soon
Thanks for all your support peeps. For those of you that have not had the Vanburger experience check out \'youtube\' just type in Vanburger into the search area.
Rev Tony, Derbyshire says...
9:22pm Fri 3 Aug 07
sharpey, peacehaven says...
11:00pm Fri 3 Aug 07
Mike Ransley, Newhaven says...
11:19am Tue 14 Aug 07
sylvia hafez, cambs says...
11:43am Mon 28 Jan 08
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mark, BN3 says...
4:43pm Thu 2 Aug 07
The county is covered with converted trailers selling food of questionable quality. There shoudl be a major clamp down on them. Imagine living near them - awful smells all day!