This is why some takeaways could be banned from Coventry

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This is why some takeaways could be banned from Coventry

Postby dutchman » Fri Aug 10, 2018 6:38 pm

New measurements could prevent a takeaway gaining planning permission

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New measures could be put in place which would allow the council to reject some takeaways applying for planning permission in Coventry.

At a meeting on Monday, August 6, concerns were raised by some councillors that policies designed to curb the unhealthy effects of takeaways, amid mounting fears of obesity, might make little difference.

Coventry City Council is currently drafting a supplementary planning document, which sets out a number of issues to be taken into account when deciding whether to approve plans for new hot food outlets - for example, if it is too close to a school or if there are already a high number of takeaways in the area.

While the local authority accepts that the businesses can offer "an important service", applications often prove controversial and the document aims to ensure that there isn't a negative impact on "the health and wellbeing" of neighbours.

However, Cllr Ed Ruane, the cabinet member for housing and communities, said that, while he didn't want to appear pessimistic, he had doubts as to whether the new set of proposals would have the desired effect.

One concern was that a policy preventing takeaways opening within a five minute walk of school gates may not apply if the application fell within one of the designated shopping centres dotted around the city.

Cllr Ruane said: "Just playing [devil's advocate], if you opened up a takeaway restaurant smack bang between two primary schools and it is in a shopping facility, that would still get the go ahead because it's already in an identified shopping area?"

Cllr Ruane had also questioned why the radius around schools was defined by walking time rather than a specific distance, suggesting this could prove too "vague".

Outlining the aims of the draft document, Tracy Miller, the city council's head of planning and regulation, said: "This is for the little deep fried chicken place that's just round the corner from the school.

"You go into them around school time and the kids all just pile into them and they go and buy their chicken and chips. And that's what this is aimed at trying to really stop."

Cllr Marcus Lapsa (Con, Westwood) said: "I'm sure every ward councillor has fought various different things to do with takeaways.

"I just think the more tools that planning have got in their armoury [the better]."

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