Take-away plans thrown out in Middleton

Plans to turn a shop and a taxi rank into two seperate take-aways have been refused by Middleton Councillors.

A large number of residents attended the Middleton Township Planning Sub-Committee meeting to oppose the plans and they were unanimously voted out by councillors.

The first application, on Kirkway, was thrown out because it would 'unduly affect the amenity of neighbouring residents or businesses by reason of noise, smell, litter and hours of opening', amidst residents concerns that it would lead to increase in anti-social behaviour by youths in the area, which local police officers had worked so hard to improve.

Ward Councillor Peter Williams said: "This take-away would affect the lives of residents in a big way and if this application is taken to appeal, the applicant will have councillors and thousands of residents organised against it. There will need to be a big space for that appeal meeting to be held!"

Similar reasons were given for the refusal of a second take-away, on Rochdale Road, which is also in a conservation area.

North Middleton Councillor Maureen Rowbotham said: "This is a very old part of Middleton and it is part of a residential area. Middleton does have a lot of take-aways, probably too many, but they are all in the centre of Middleton where they should be, not in this conservation area. We would be setting a dangerous precedent of letting take-aways set up anywhere if we allow this one."

It is likely that both of the applicants will appeal against the decisions to refuse planning permission.