A council has denied a pizza restaurant’s expansion, citing concerns about local children’s obesity rates in Bacup, Lancashire
Bacup: So, there’s this pizza place called Woody’s Pizza that wanted to open a new spot in town. But guess what? The council said no, claiming the kids are too fat. Can you believe that?
They already have two locations in Lancashire and were hoping to take over an old cafe that shut down. The owner, Colum Hustler, said they use less salt and sugar and buy local ingredients. Sounds good, right?
But the council wasn’t having it. They pointed out that there are already too many takeaways and that kids in the area are struggling with obesity. It’s a bit of a tough situation.
Some locals, like 75-year-old Eric Halliwell, think the council is overreacting. He says the kids look fine and that they need more places to hang out. He’s got a point; kids need things to do!
According to the council’s rules, they won’t approve new takeaways if a significant number of kids are classified as obese. And it turns out, about 20% of kids aged 10 to 11 in the area are considered obese. That’s a real concern.
Sarah O’Neill, who runs a nearby café, believes there’s room for healthy options. She’s even thinking about applying for a takeaway license herself. She wants to offer homemade, healthy food, which sounds like a great idea!
But the council’s planning officer wasn’t impressed with Woody’s plans. She said it wouldn’t add anything new to the town and that it wouldn’t fit in with the area’s vibe. Ouch!
Some residents also chimed in, saying the proposed opening hours wouldn’t help make the town lively. They worry it might attract troublemakers instead of families.
Woody’s Pizza argued that they’re different from other takeaways. They don’t use cheap ingredients and want to support local markets. They really believe they could be a positive addition to Bacup.
In the end, the council turned down their request, saying it would negatively impact the community. It’s a tough break for Woody’s, but it’s clear the council is trying to tackle a serious issue.
Let’s see what happens next in Bacup!
