ST HELENS Council has refused permission for an Italian restaurant to open a takeaway, citing their long-standing policy to fight obesity.

Last week, the Star reported how Little Italy on Ormskirk Road in Rainford, a restaurant offering traditional Italian food, had been advised by St Helens Council that their latest venture - which would offer food as takeaway options in a new venue nearby - would fall foul of planning rules.

This is due to it being within 400 metres of a primary school.

Owners and brothers Fabio, Francesco and Valerio Cangemi were encouraged by the demand in their restaurant to plan to open a separate venue for takeaway options after 4.30pm only.

Investment

The trio have spent upwards of £30,000 in transforming a former tearooms into Little Italy Express to offer the same Mediterranean dishes that they offer in the restaurant.

The rationale for the refusal by St Helens Borough Council is due to the business being classed as a takeaway, a classification which the council told the brothers they had to apply for.

As previously reported, a council planning policy was set up in 2011 to prevent takeaways from opening close to schools in a bid to combat rising levels of childhood obesity.

The refusal of permission means that the brothers are now looking to legally appeal, saying they are "furious" at the decision.

Reasons for refusal

The refusal document states: “The application site is located within a 400 metre hot food takeaway exclusion zone for Corpus Christi Primary School (c250m away). The A.R.T.S Independent Specialist School (c2.8m away) also adjoins the application site to the south.

“The proposed change of use for a hot food takeaway therefore fails to comply with [the policy] which seeks to reduce the rate of childhood obesity in the borough and promote healthier communities and lifestyles.”

It further adds: “The proposal would not improve the economic, social or environmental conditions of the area. There were no amendments to the scheme, or conditions that could reasonably have been imposed, which would have made the development acceptable.”

However, emails seen by the Star show the owners of Little Italy requested to meet with officers on a number of occasions to discuss what amendments could be made to their initial proposal, including reviewing opening times, getting a nutritionist to break down their menu, letters from both schools and more.

Community support for plans

Rainford councillor Linda Mussell also submitted a letter to St Helens Council supporting the business in expanding.

The officer report, published on the planning portal, cites the following: “Councillor Linda Mussell is supportive of the application and her comments can be summarised as follows: The proposal would be open after the neighbouring schools closing times; The Mediterranean menu offers nutritionally balanced foods; Minimal impacts on parking and highway safety as the proposal has made arrangements for parking at the neighbouring school; The area of the application site is in need of regeneration.”

It added that there were a further 71 letters in support of the application, six against the application (two from the same person) and one neutral stance - which is from one of the schools involved.

'We are furious'

Commenting on the refusal Fabio Cangemi said: “We are furious, we have followed every instruction set out to us by St Heles Council's planning department and to me, this now is against us personally and Rainford personally.

“It is an outdated policy which looks to protect the people in St Helens. I live in St Helens and appreciate that.

“The fact is though that the food we serve does not fall into what they define as unhealthy and they are either not willing to negotiate or see that or refuse to because the policy states something different.

“We have an online petition which is calling for the policy to be reviewed and we so far have 1,200 signatures; we urge people to please sign and help us change this ridiculous policy which does not take individual businesses into account.

“We are also appealing this decision, both of my brothers and my personal savings have been put into this business to expand what we have on offer to residents in Rainford.

“Rainford wants this, we want this and this policy and St Helens Council is the only thing standing in the way of that so we will appeal this fully.”

To sign the petition, which does not cost anything to do so, go to change.org/p/revise-the-council-s-policy-on-takeaway-proximity-to-schools-in-rainford