Labour’s Takeaway Ban Would Shut The Door On New Takeaways in York

York Liberal Democrats have slammed Labour's proposed planning guidance on hot food takeaways, warning it would effectively prevent new fish and chip shops, pizza, Chinese, Indian and other independent takeaways from opening across York.

Under the draft guidance published by City of York Council, planning applications for new takeaways would normally be refused if they are within 800 metres walking distance of a school, childcare setting, family hub, play area, community centre, library or park, unless they are located in York city centre, Acomb or Haxby district centres.

This comes after Labour changed the National Planning Policy Framework to include:

"Local planning authorities should refuse applications for hot food takeaways and fast food outlets:

a)       within walking distance of schools and other places where children and young people congregate, unless the location is within a designated town centre..."

Liberal Democrats say the proposal goes far beyond the national consensus with most local authorities choosing 400 meters of secondary schools or youth clubs only and amounts to a ban on new takeaways across most of the city and represents yet another blow to local businesses already struggling with rising costs.

Councillor Andrew Hollyer, York Liberal Democrat Housing and Planning Spokesperson said:

"Labour's war on local businesses has reached a new level.

"At a time when independent businesses are already facing enormous pressures, including higher employment costs following Labour's National Insurance increases, York Labour now wants to make it even harder for local entrepreneurs to open a business and create jobs.

"This proposal doesn't just target multinational fast-food chains. It would hit the small family-run fish and chip shop, the independent pizza takeaway, the local Chinese takeaway and countless other small businesses that are part of the fabric of our communities.

"Labour's own guidance says new takeaways would normally be refused within 800 metres of schools and a whole range of other community facilities. Given the number of schools, parks, libraries and community centres across York, that rules out huge areas of the city."

The draft guidance specifically lists fish and chip shops, pizza takeaways, Chinese and Thai takeaways, Indian takeaways, burger takeaways and kebab shops among the businesses affected.

Councillor Ashley Mason, York Liberal Democrat Economy Spokesperson added:

"The last thing York needs right now is Labour introducing new barriers that make it harder for local people to invest in our city.

"Independent takeaways employ local people, support local supply chains and help keep our local high streets vibrant. They deserve support, not another layer of restrictions.

“The justification that this is being done to support healthy lifestyles doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. For example, under these new rules a Pret sandwich shop would be able to open up and sell a Cheddar and Pickle baguette containing 643 calories which is more than twice the calories of a fish shop fish or a portion of chips!

"York's economy grows when local businesses are given the confidence to invest. Labour seem determined to send exactly the opposite message."