Takeaways cheapen town centre

COUNCIL officers are preparing tight restrictions on new town centre takeaways, Oldham Town Centre Partnership reports.

A document, which could come into action next year, will outline strict criteria for consent.

Councillor Jackie Stanton, a partnership board member, hopes it will curb the number of takeaways in the town centre. She said: “Takeaways cheapen our town centre. Parts of the town centre look closed during the day, with their shutters down.”

The issue was raised when partnership members were asked to recommend refusal of a planned hot-food takeaway in Union Street, opposite Sainsbury’s. This would put it next to the imminent Oldham Central Metrolink stop.

Another board member, Councillor Dave Hibbert, said: “What we certainly don’t need any more of in the town centre is takeaways. The proposed new takeaway would be located close to the Metrolink stop on Union Street and people coming off the tram will not want to see a takeaway.”

The partnership said the proposal, recommended for refusal by the board, did nothing to develop the variety and quality of the town centre.