Petition to Save Our Ice Cream Lady!

We have received the petition below in an attempt to save a long-standing and well-loved local business.

Mark Law writes: 

In our well-meaning support for the Keyhaven/Milford on Sea Parking Scheme, we have unintentionally harmed Debbie’s (our beloved Ice Cream Lady’s) ability to trade.

We’ve started a petition asking Hampshire County Council to grant her an exemption.

Please click the link below to sign and share it to help protect a much loved member of our community.

https://www.change.org/Save_Our_Ice_Cream_Lady

Thank you so much.

The Issue & Why This Matters:

We, the undersigned, call on Councillor Fran Carpenter and Hampshire County Council to grant a written exemption to Debbie, our iconic and much loved Ice Cream Lady, from the proposed Saltgrass Lane / New Lane Parking Scheme in Keyhaven / Milford on Sea.

This scheme threatens the very survival of Debbie’s micro business, a treasured member of our community, which brings joy, comfort, and character to locals and visitors alike.

Who Is Debbie?

Debbie is not just a vendor, she’s a local legend and a heartwarming fixture of the Keyhaven/Milford on Sea experience. For the past 11 years, she has provided:

o Award-winning New Forest Ice Cream

o Crabbing tackle for children at the Crabbing Bridge

o Dog treats for our four-legged friends

o Lost property help

o Tourist information

o First aid support

o A friendly face and listening ear for all ages

Her van is a cherished part of the local landscape, especially for families with young children, and her presence brings life, charm and community spirit to our area.

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The Ice Cream Lady Song

Back in the summer of  2024, Local band, Captain Crackers and The Curiosities released a new track called 'The Ice Cream Lady Song'. The song is inspired by Debbie, owner of Milford on Ice, the ice cream van at the Crabbing Bridge in Milford on Sea.

This first single by the much loved, (and certainly eccentric!), local band was recorded live at The Gun Inn, Keyhaven.

Mark from the band explains: "The song celebrates Debbie, our lovely ice cream lady, who has cheerfully provided ice creams to generations of walkers and crabbers down at the Crabbing Bridge on Saltgrass Lane between Keyhaven and Milford on Sea. We’re regulars and encourage everyone to go along, say hello, and buy an ice cream or two!"

"The song has a terrific tune and features a number of surprises including, a Magic Ice Cream Van, the world’s shortest (and most hilarious) piano solo and of course Debbie, our wonderful Ice Cream Lady!"

To listen to the song on Spotify, please click here - or Apple Music, please click here. 

You can find out more about Captain Crackers and The Curiosities at:

www.captaincrackers.band

www.facebook.com/captaincrackersband

www.instagram.com/captaincrackers.band