A SNACK bar owner who was forced off his pitch in Portishead by council officials has been thrown a lifeline. Dave Buljoo, who owns D'n'C Snacks, was

A SNACK bar owner who was forced off his pitch in Portishead by council officials has been thrown a lifeline.Dave Buljoo, who owns D'n'C Snacks, was told this week by North Somerset Council leaders that he has to move off the lay-by at the A369 Portbury Hundreds.Council officials decided to use the lay-by as a storage depot for its highway maintenance materials, meaning Mr Buljoo, who has been there for 15 years, will lose his pitch.The news the popular snack bar owner was on the move prompted hundreds of customers to sign a petition calling for him to stay.And now council bosses have said they will endeavour to find him an alternative site to trade from.At a meeting of North Somerset Council executive, deputy leader Councillor Elfan Ap Rees said officers had been instructed to try and find a different site for Mr Buljoo elsewhere in the district.Cllr Ap Rees said: "It was unfortunate that Mr Buljoo was only given short notice of the work."On that basis, and that alone, I have asked officers if there is an alternative suitable site in the district for Mr Buljoo. As we are currently in the process of licensing all snack bars we have also agreed to refund Mr Baljoo his £300 application fee while the matter is looked into."North Somerset Council leader Nigel Ashton has also arranged a meeting with Mr Buljoo later this month to discuss his situation.The news has been welcomed by Mr Buljoo who said his business was in jeopardy because of being moved off the site.Mr Buljoo said: "I am pleased I am being given the opportunity to discuss my situation with the council."But I feel there is a still a dark cloud hanging over my head as I really don't know where I stand."I am pleased the council is going to look at an alternative site for me and I am hoping I can stay in Portishead because most of my customers are local and rely on me."* What do you think? Should Mr Buljoo be allowed to stay or is the council right to move him on? Write to us at Mailbox, North Somerset Times, 32 Waterloo Street, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 1LW. You can also email us at nstimes@archant.co.uk