Takeaway outlet near school forced to close

20th April 2009, 3:05pm

A new fast food outlet nearby two east London schools has been asked to move after failing to comply with the council's ban on takeaway concepts near schools, according to The BBC.

A spokesperson for Waltham Forest Council explained that Bamboo Joint, which sells Caribbean cuisine, was within 400m of Tom Hood Secondary School as well as Mayville Primary School and Langthorne Park.

The owners of the shop were given three days to shut down the premises by officials. They raided the establishment and posted a closure order which is the first since the ban came into effect last year.

The council set up the 400m exclusion zone around schools, parks and youth centres to tackle child obesity, littering and anti-social behaviour after residents filed a number of complaints.

Council leader Clyde Loakes commented on the action taken against the takeaway, which opened up just six weeks ago: "This fast-food outlet has not got planning permission and has absolutely no chance of getting it, because of its proximity to a park and a school, so we're closing it down."

"A lot of fast food outlets do their business with schoolchildren, in competition with the healthy schools agenda."

Figures from a public consultation by the Waltham Forest Council last year found that 93% of people were in favour of banning fast food outlets opening near schools and youth centres.

Related Articles:

• 17 Mar 2010 - Fast food ban reduces childhood obesity
• 03 Nov 2009 - New data suggests child obesity may be levelling off
• 09 Dec 2008 - 93% want ban on takeaways near schools
• 23 May 2007 - Waltham Forest fight for school dinners

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