Dispute over High Street takeaway plan

DPA Architects has applied to convert an empty shop unit near Queens crossroads into a hot food outlet.

The proposals were initially rejected in June, when Rotherham Council said it would mean 11 per cent of the town centre was takeaways — above the ten per cent threshold.

But the applicants say Kate’s Kitchen was wrongly included in this data and that the total would actually be 9.76 per cent if the new venture was approved.

Agents Pegasus Planning said: “It is clear that this unit operates as a sandwich shop and is not a hot food takeaway premises.

“Therefore, it has been incorrectly counted as a takeaway in the council’s monitoring data and there are in fact seven units currently operating as hot food takeaways within [Maltby] town centre.

“The proposal would increase this number to eight units out of a total of 82 which equates to 9.75 per cent and remains below the ten per cent threshold set out within criteria.”

The former Ladysave and Priceless discount store unit would open for food sales from 11am to 11pm daily, under the new plans, which attracted 110 objections within two weeks of public consultation.

One resident said: “Maltby really does not need another takeaway. We already have several within a few steps of each other, and then there’s others close by.

“They encourage gangs of teenagers hanging around outside them. We need to clean up Maltby, not add to the problems we’re already having in this village.”

Another, of Albert Street, added: “Takeaway places produce so much waste in a time when people are working to improve our climate.

“Maltby needs a multitude of shops that work within the community, like a good fruit and veg shop, a proper clothes shop, something that will benefit the community and make High Street what it used to be.”

A third, of Wood View, said: “It also has a detrimental effect on the obesity and diabetes levels here in our town.

“We push our NHS to the limit because fast food is too convenient. I agree that the shop is better used than closed but I’m sure if the rent was cheaper on our High Street, there would be more options, which our town would greatly benefit from.”

The site is also within 800 metres of three schools — going against council policy — but the applicants say this is outweighed by a town centre being an appropriate location for a takeaway.

If RMBC officers recommend approving the application, it will go before the council’s planning board for a decision.