A BELOVED ice-cream stall in Cae Glas Park will not be returning this summer after a new trader was awarded the tender for the spot.

Oswestry Town Council gave traders the opportunity to tender for a pitch back in January, when they made available two licensed pitches – one for light refreshments and one for the ice-cream stall.

Jen and Adam Beckett opened their business nine years ago, and they became a Cae Glas Park staple with their ice-cream cooling visitors down every summer – but they will not be returning this year after the latest contract was awarded to an alternative bidder after a blind tendering process.

Now Jen has told that the move has left her feeling sad - but said she will try to keep the business running.

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She said: “I set up this business with my husband nine years ago, and we mainly did it for my well-being.

 “I have MS, I have been battling with it for a long time, and this business was something I could manage.

“All I had to do was sit down and talk to the customers and cash in the money, while my husband was preparing the ice-cream, which helped me tremendously.”

Jen continued: “It was our livelihood, and it was something we both enjoyed doing, we love the park and our loyal customers.

“We have had a few people getting in touch asking if we want to come to their events, and the support has been overwhelming, so we will see where things go.”

During the winter months, the couple attend the little fairs and festivals, where they sell cotton candy, that being their other source of income.

They lost out on the pitch in a blind tender process, meaning that the council could not see who was entering each bid.

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“When I spoke to Oswestry Town Council, they were really apologetic” Jane said. “But there was nothing else they could do about it.”

An online petition was set up by one customer, in the hope that visitors can get their favourite ice-cream back.

Jen added: “We are a successful little business and not being able to set up shop in the park like we did for the past nine years makes us really sad.

“We want to thank the people that have signed the petition and we really appreciate the support.”