Massive opposition to new take-away

11:52am Thursday 1st May 2008

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MORE than 50 residents have sent letters of objection to the borough council to try to block a new take-away on Orchard Street, Fearnhead.

Plans to change the currently empty shop into a Chinese take-away have been submitted to Warrington Borough Council attracting 55 letters of complaint.

Almost every letter mentions four key objections: the amount of traffic; the level of litter; the fact there are already four take-aways nearby and worries over gangs of youths seeing the take-away as a place to congregate.

Eight of the letters come from residents of Station Road North, where Garry Newlove was murdered last August.

All of them mention their fears that groups of teenagers will gather outside the take-away adding to what they say is already an apprehensive atmosphere in the area.

"The residents of Station Road North are still shocked by the tragic death of Mr Newlove. We will not sanction any enterprise that may attract the scum who were responsible for his murder," says one letter.

Another says: "It is obvious that the council don't live anywhere near, otherwise they would understand how bad it is," this time referring to parking problems.

Another Station Road resident said: "I cannot believe the people of this area are having yet again to fight against another food take-away.

"We do not want it, never have wanted it and never will want it."

The proposed take-away is currently a disused tanning shop on Meadow Lane, Fearnhead.

The borough council's highways department has put forward no objection to development, despite the 55 letters that almost all mention parking.

A few years ago on Meadow Lane a man died when his ambulance was blocked in the road by a car, and many of the letters point to this as an example of how bad the parking situation is on the street.

None of the letters are in support of the plans, applied for by a Mr Zhizhen.

The plans propose opening hours of 10am until 11.30pm from Sunday to Thursday and 10am to midnight every Friday and Saturday.

A decision is due to be made on May 21.