The new regulations would see the vans given the right to trade on Eat Street for 12 months. 

The council will also install a pedestrian crossing at the Ann Street entrance of St Georges Square. 

City of Launceston’s general manager, Michael Stretton, said the new interim model for food van operation was one that would “maximise public safety”. 

“It’s obvious to the council that the people of Launceston enjoy the casual dining experience that comes with the food van culture,” Mr Stretton said. 

“We’ve heard loud and clear that the public loves food vans and we want to fully support this. It’s a wonderful initiative and one that adds much to the food culture of this beautiful city.”

He said more than 2800 vehicles pass along that stretch of High Street between 5pm and 9pm every day. 

“That’s a lot of vehicular movements in an area where you have a large, constant flow of pedestrians,” Mr Stretton said. 

“Our main concern is the obvious risk to public safety in the area and that’s something we believe is paramount.”

Mr Stretton said the question for the council was how the issue is addressed, with the minimum amount of regulation. 

The council’s idea to limit the number of food vans was to allow more space for pedestrians to see oncoming traffic.

The regulations would also provide greater certainty to traders by enabling the four spaces to be securely occupied for 12 months. 

“The sites would be publicly advertised every 12 months to ensure that equal opportunities are provided to all food van operators to benefit from the popular High Street destination,” Mr Stretton said. 

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The new proposed regulations would ban food vans from having a door opening on to the roadway, except the driver’s door. 

Current operators will be granted a two-month amnesty to comply with the regulation. 

The council said it fully supported Eat Street, and had spoken with the operators of Launceston food vans. 

“Despite what people may have read on social media, the council has always fully supported food vans, and we support them in High Street,” Mr Stretton said. 

He said any misconceptions that Eat Street was “winding up” were “simply untrue”. 

The council had already reduced the speed limit to 40km/h during the van’s operating hours, in a bid to protect pedestrian safety.

The council will vote on the adoption of an interim model of operation for mobile food vans on Monday.