Worried: Carol Linton, with licence and ledger in hand, pondering his future after being ordered to move his food business from Middle Street.

by TREVOR YEARWOOD

ONE OF THE FAVOURITE pastimes for Bridgetown shoppers isn't so proper anymore.

The popular barbecued pigtail outlet which for years operated near the Upper Broad Street traffic lights has received marching orders.

Police yesterday notified the Barbecue King & Queen that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development had revoked its licence and it should vacate the corner of Middle Street.

But Enterprise, Christ Church, businessman Carol Linton, who has been running the small under-the-tent outlet for 16 years, is fighting back.

"My lawyer is bringing an injunction to prevent the police moving us," he told the DAILY NATION yesterday.

Senior Superintendent of Police Morgan Greaves said the licence had been revoked because there was a gas line under the street and the business could be at risk, as well as posing a risk to shoppers in The City.

He said the police were also worried because what started out as a small operation had spread onto the street, encroaching onto a no-parking zone.

"We have advised them to move and we will enforce the law," Greaves warned.

He also said that the Ministry of Agriculture had offered Linton an alternative location at Cheapside for the business.

Linton said he did his own investigations and talked to people at the gas company and they did not say there was a gas line under the street.

He also pointed out that he had a licence to continue selling his pigtails, burgers, chicken, chips, hot-dogs and wedges until January 7, 2009, in Middle Street.

Linton added that it was strange that neither the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development nor the police had provided the business with any documents relative to the revocation of the outlet's licence.

He did recall problems about five years ago with the Ministry of Transport and Works (MTW).

"About six months after we renewed the permit, MTW said they were revoking it," he noted. "They turned up with a van, put our stuff in it and took everything to Central Police Station. We took them to court and we won the case."

Linton operates at three locations, including Magazine Lane and Jemmotts Lane, both in Bridgetown.

The Middle Street operation is said to be the most successful.