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A new takeaway for Castle Road
b12-089 125 Castle Rd, Bedford
A HEALTH food shop in Castle Road could soon become a fast food outlet after the green light was granted by planning chiefs on Monday.
The plans went through despite protests from residents, who believe that a new takeaway would create traffic congestion and be bad for the health of local school children.
In a speech to the meeting of Bedford Borough Council’s planning committee, campaigner Samantha Price, said: “Takeaways in particular can generate high levels of car-borne trade.
“This will lead to more congestion on a busy road meaning a grave risk of danger to young children who are not aware of traffic.
“More traffic equals more risk to children. That is an unarguable fact. What is an arguable fact though is the planning officer’s assertion that many people would walk or cycle to such a facility. I don’t know about you but I’ve never tried to ride a bike while carrying a full bag of fish and chips.”
And in her speech to the packed meeting and public gallery Mrs Price claimed that the health of children who attend Castle Lower School, which is close to the site, could be put at risk by another fast food outlet.
She said: “More fast food outlets would undoubtedly have a detrimental effect on the health of the local population. The premises are approximately 251 metres from Castle Lower School, young children would walk past the premises every day.”
Campaigners are now discussing whether to take the matter to judicial review over what they see as inconsistency in the planning committee’s approach to the application.
73 people formally objected to the plans which are now subject to landlord approval. Impact on the area, litter and late opening hours were listed as concerns.
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Weather for Bedford
Monday 20 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 10 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 7 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North
