Move to cap growth of street take-aways

Takeaway overload? Oldham shoppers will find 19 takeaways on the 300 yard stretch of road in Yorkshire Street from the old town hall down to the Mumps roundabout

THE number of takeaways being opened in Oldham could be capped.

At present, council planners cannot refuse an application for a take-away on the grounds that there are already too many in a certain area, but this could all change.

Planning chairman, Councillor Roger Hindle, said: “The high number of take-aways is certainly a concern in Oldham for a number of reasons.

“Other traders in the town centre have made noises about the smells coming from the take-aways affecting their business and large groups of people tend to congregate around takeaways too.

“Another problem we have is that take-aways are primarily an evening economy, so the shutters are generally down during the day, making for an unattractive street scene.”

A council planning task group set up to debate areas of planning policy have been looking at the issue after a stack of applications for take-aways were granted within a matter of weeks.

Though discussions are in their early stages, the group could propose a new rule which caps the number of take-aways in any given area.

Councillor Hindle said: “Other local authorities already enforce similar rules. If we do make any changes, we’re not sure yet whether they will apply just to the town centre or to the whole of the borough.”

While many will welcome the proposals, with take-aways already peppering the town centre streets, the council could be accused of trying to close the stable door once the horse has already bolted.

Councillor Hindle added: “We are at saturation point now and we are looking at putting a block on new take-aways, because we don’t want Yorkshire Street to look like one takeaway after another.”

Welcoming the moves, Councillor Jackie Stanton said: “I’m delighted that we’re taking a look at this. I know of one long standing business in Union Street which is moving to Royton precisely because of this issue and we need to keep quality businesses in the town centre.”

Councillor Dave Hibbert added: “Now that the Metrolink might be coming down Union Street, we don’t want people riding past nothing but shop shutters. It gives a bad impression of our town.”