More than 3,000 people have signed a petition to keep the Dixons Milk Ices van in Beaumont Park in Huddersfield.

Lockwood-based Dixons lost out in the official tender process and regular ice cream man, self-employed Gary Redfearn, will have to quit the park.

Tara Calvin launched an online petition called Keep Dixons Ice Cream at Beaumont Park and hundreds of Dixons fans have flocked to sign it. The petition can be signed here.

The petition says: “Dixons ice cream have been told they are no longer able to sell ice cream at Beaumont Park.

“Dixons are a local business that have been making ice cream for over 60 years, located just down the road from the park.

“It has been a long-standing tradition for visitors to the park to have a ‘Dixons’ and enjoy the surroundings. It is so sad to hear this will now come to an end as the tender has been given to a company from Bradford.

“Kirklees Council (are) not being very green or supporting local business in this case. Come on, Kirklees, please sort this out or there will be a lot of disappointed visitors not being able to get the very best delicious local ice cream, especially after the terrible year we have all had.”

In a statement to Huddersfield Hub, Dixons office manager Laura Bonnell said: “As a small business we are, of course, disappointed that we did not win the tender process for the site at Beaumont Park.

“As our van drivers are self-employed this has, of course, come as a huge let down for Gary and his business as he has been working out of the park for 20 years. But, of course, we do respect the process we were asked to participate in.

“We are so touched by everyone’s kind words and how Dixons Milk Ices has come to have a place in the hearts of the people of Huddersfield.

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“We want everyone who visits the park to know that as Beaumont Park and the surrounding areas are on Gary’s regular route he will still be calling by the park on a weekend and the school holidays as normal to run his round.

“The Friends of Beaumont Park, who have supported Gary so much over the years, have invited him back as a guest for their events.

“This is wonderful news for all involved as a percentage of Gary’s takings from these events does go back to the Friends of Beaumont Park to keep supporting them in all the wonderful work they do.”