Bid to stop takeaways opening near Luton schools 'completely ignored' by planning and licensing teams, says councillor

Luton Borough Council is promoting a 'child healthy weight strategy' - which seeks to limit burger bars close to schools.

Planning officers have been examining what powers they can use to stop fast food outlets opening near schools in the town.

At yesterday's (Monday) executive committee, Labour Challney councillor Khitja Malik said: “To deliver our Luton 2040 vision, it’s important to reduce child obesity in the town.

“The child healthy weight strategy builds on the work of the sport and physical activity strategy.

“Six priority areas have been identified and it was agreed by the health and wellbeing board in January.”

But Labour Challney councillor Tom Shaw said: “18 months ago, we instructed officers to raise objections to anywhere within 250 yards of a school.

“The planners and the licensing department of the council have completely ignored the instructions given out at the executive.

“In Challney ward, we’ve just tried to raise objections to an off-licence opening late at night because kids congregate outside it.

“We’re told they aren’t genuine reservations by our legal department, so we can’t object on those grounds.

“Central Bedfordshire Council, next door to us, if it gives planning consent for a takeaway - you have to pay a fee for cleaning a bin outside your shop.

“In Luton, we don’t seem to be able to do any of that for some reason.

“We need to get our act together. How long does it take for an executive decision to be enacted?” he asked.

“I know of two in my own ward which have been given planning permission.”

Labour Farley councillor Mahmood Hussain agreed, saying he was happy with the strategy, but concerned with the delay resolving takeaways outside schools.

He said: “It’s no use trying to support a strategy if we can’t implement this when it comes to the planning provisions."

The council’s director of place and infrastructure Laura Church admitted work on the strategy remained outstanding.

She said: “What we needed to look at was getting the food plan reworked, so we could use it when it comes to decisions around planning applications.

“I’ll give a written response as to where we are.”

Liberal Democrat Barnfield councillor David Franks said: “The question of hot food takeaways near schools is something being actively pursued through the Local Plan working party.

“Whether the solution lies with the food plan or via revisions to the Local Plan clearly there’s a need to find a way through.”

Council leader and Labour Lewsey councillor Hazel Simmons said: “I think all the comments made are valid, Laura, with a feeling of a lack of a follow-up from a council executive decision.

“I would like that response back as soon as you can on where we are with all this.”

Labour Saints councillor Javed Hussain suggested pushing the message about healthy eating through schools and nurseries “because of the diabetes epidemic we’ve got in Luton and obesity”.

He said children “can take that message back to their parents”.

The executive approved the child healthy weight strategy.