DARWEN’S MP has called on the council to put together a planning policy to prevent too many takeaways opening up in an area.

His call came after plans were submitted to install a pizza and chicken takeaway at the Savoy Garage in Blackburn Road.

There are already more than 30 takeaways on Darwen’s main road, the A666, and town MP Jake Berry has said: ‘Enough is enough’.

Mr Berry said: “I think that number of takeaways is enough for any town. “With all the problems with childhood obesity and things like that, the council should look at a reasonable way to stop all vacant shops being turned into takeaways. A fantastic mill town like Darwen needs a good variety of shops, where people can buy any number of different things.

“I am not hammering takeaways and there should be provision for people to get one if they want, but there does seem to be too many.

“We don’t want Darwen to become a takeaway town.”

Earcroft councillor and deputy chairman of Darwen Town Council Trevor Maxfield said he agreed that there were too many takeaways. He said: “There are dozens and dozens of them, but with the new planning laws we are pretty much powerless to stop them.

“People must be using them if there are so many, but it is getting a bit excessive.”

The plans at the Savoy Garage, which don’t include any physical changes to the building, will see part of the inside of the garage converted into a takeaway.

Applicant Asif Patel declined to comment.