COUNCILLORS are calling for a review of the number of takeaways in Hyndburn due to fears they are saturating town centres.

Members of Hyndburn Borough Council’s planning committee took the stance after proposals for a takeaway in Burnley Road, Accrington, were discussed during a meeting today.

The proposed takeaway is outside the town centre, but committee members said businesses were being forced to submit plans for these areas as town centres were full of them.

As a result of the application they are proposing a re-think of the council policy – which states planning permission should not be granted to any proposed takeaway unless it is in a town centre.

Coun Doug Hayes said: “Unfortunately all the town centres are full of takeaways and there is nowhere, other than outside the town centre, for these types of applications to be submitted.

“We are getting nothing but betting shops and takeaways in town centres.

"One is feeding the other.

“We have to look at this proliferation of takeaways we have in Accrington.

“There is a market for them and they are catering for customers.

“But we need to look at this more carefully to see what sort of proliferation there is in the area.”

Coun Lynn Wilson agreed but said that takeaways in residential areas also caused problems for residents with parking and litter.

Coun Hayes said: “Everyone rushes into this and the takeaway owners don’t have a strategy.

“There is a need for an overview in the area.”

The proposals for the takeaway in Burnley Road was refused by the planning committee at the meeting in Scaitcliffe House, Ormerod Street.