FOOD trailer owner Gregory Howells is so fed up with trying to find a spot to trade in Swindon he has gone to Reading

The boss of Bandido Burritos said: “I proposed over 13 different suitable locations, but they’ve all been rejected.”

Now he is making a two-hour round trip every day to sell food on a building site 40 miles away.

He founded his takeaway business last year and has since spent months dealing with applications to the borough council.

The trailer was recently in a pub carpark in Purton for two weeks on a temporary basis.

Gregory, who lives in Swindon, said: “I kept filling the applications, but I don’t want to pay and waste my money.

“Each application costs £464 pounds and you never know if it’ll be accepted.

“I lived in Swindon all my life, but they don’t want to hear it. I’m even using products from local businesses in Swindon.

“I just wanted to introduce something different to Swindon.”

He told the Advertiser: “The council in Reading has been helpful, and my trailer is now near Reading University on a private building site.”

But he has not yet given up hope of being able to dish out spicy snacks to customers in his home town.

He has started an online petition which has seen over 200 people asking the trailer to return.

“I’ve received a lot of five stars from my customers because it’s different from other local businesses and it’s fresh. They all wanted me to stay. "

He said: “If we reach the target - 500 signatures - it will go to the head of the borough council.”

A Swindon Borough Council spokesman said: “Mr Howells is painting a very misleading picture. We are very supportive of small businesses such as his burrito van so long as the location is appropriate, and residents are consulted. He simply needs to follow the same process everybody else does because we cannot provide a free advice service to any business or make any exceptions. To suggest 13 sites have been dismissed is not accurate because no planning or licensing application for any site has been submitted for consideration.

“Our message is read our clear online guidance, narrow down the list of potential sites and use the £100 pre-application service so we can provide meaningful and constructive feedback. If he does that, we would be more than happy to consider his application.”