Obesity fears over fourth takeaway

Councillors approved a plan to convert a photography studio in Logans Road after being told the concerns were irrelevant.

North Lanarkshire’s planning committee heard the small shopping centre already has a chip shop and Chinese and Indian takeaways. The Brass Button pub is in the vicinity and there are a Spar and a licensed grocers.

Seventeen objections were made to the planning application and the council also received a protest petition signed by 260 people.

A report to the committee said people were worried that in “an area of deprivation and associated health issues such as obesity and diabetes another takeaway will just add to these problems”.

However, councillors were told that concerns over public health and over-provision of fast food outlets are “not material planning considerations”.

The report also dismissed fears about increased litter in the area and more late night noise.

It stated: “Any issue relating to anti-social behaviour should be raised with the police. A pub, shop and three takeaways within the centre already open late so it is not considered that the proposed takeaway would result in significantly more people loitering and creating noise and disturbance than at present.”