Takeaway action put on the menu

OLDHAM COUNCIL MEETING: OLDHAM could clamp down on the number of hot-food takeaways blighting the borough.

It will look at the feasibility of a range of suggestions to curb takeaways to improve the appearance of the town’s streets.

The move, approved last night, comes after the Evening Chronicle reported in June how a 19th fast-food shop was given the go-ahead within yards of a grade II listed church.

The Rev Paul Plumpton criticised planning approval for the KFC drive-through opposite St James’s Church, Derker — which was already blighted with litter.

But councillors feared that the chain would probably win an appeal if permission was rejected, leaving the council to foot the bill for legal costs.

Labour councillor Steve Bashforth proposed a series of tough measures for planning applications for new takeaways.

These included only allowing two to open next door to each other and none within 500 metres of a school.

He also called for at least three other types of shop between groups of takeaways — and a possible one-off £1,000 fee for litter bins or promoting healthy eating.

Councillor Bashforth admitted that takeaways were popular and provided employment but argued that the council needed powers to stop them dominating other food outlets.

“Many of these businesses remain closed and shuttered during the day time and therefore have an adverse affect on the streets and create a ghost town effect in many areas,” he said.

“The proliferation of takeaways also reduces the choice and access to healthy, fresh food which in turn impacts on the health of communities in the borough.”

Lib-Dem and Conservative councillors agreed that something had to be done to tackle takeaways, but questioned if the measures suggested could be enforced.

They voted for the matter to be discussed by a scrutiny committee, adding that steps were already being taken to address the problem.

Councillor Rod Blythe attacked Councillor Bashforth for not tackling the issue during his years as chairman of the planning committee.

He called it a knee-jerk reaction to bad press and added: “If we do not do this properly in the first place, if we try to short-cut things, we will get it wrong.”