By Jenny Barwise

Last updated 12:03, Friday, 14 November 2008

Residents and traders from Cleator Moor are furious that a 15th takeaway will open in the town.

Some of the 15 takeaways on the road

Copeland councillors voted to approve the takeaway this week, despite a 700-strong petition against it.

Kathleen Weir, who lives six doors away from the planned restaurant at 82 High Street, organised the petition. She said residents feared it would encourage rats, rubbish, traffic and violence if it was built in the former Pat-a-Cake bakery.

And other takeaway owners in the town said there are already too many fast food outlets and another one would hit their trade.

Most of the existing takeaways are located on the main road that runs through the town. Last month plans were approved by councillors for another takeaway on Leconfield Street. At Wednesday’s planning panel meeting, councillors decided to approve the plans.

A member of the panel, councillor John Jackson, dubbed Cleator Moor as the takeaway capital of Cumbria during proceedings.

“Cleator Moor is always the capital of takeaways. Surely enough is enough, surely we have the power to stop this. I think there is too many. In that little area there must be about four next door. How they can make a living I don’t know.”

But councillors voted in favour to allow the outlet to open as competition towards other businesses was not a reason to refuse it.

Speaking at the meeting Mrs Weir said the town will be dead in no time if shops carry on being turned into takeaways.

“The noise and the violence is terrible and cars double park and don’t take any notice of the crossing when they go to the food outlets – I have nearly been killed three times now,” she said. “The rat situation is getting worse, it really is disgraceful, they are so big and are terrifying especially to women and children.

“There are also young people congregating outside causing violence – there is hell and mayhem.”

Owner of Anamika Tandoori Restaurant on High Street, Shamim, has been in the town for 12 years. He said that his trade has dropped and he is considering selling his business.

“There is already 14 takeaways and nobody is doing well. Basically we get one good weekend, then three bad. Cleator Moor can not be a town of food. I think a lot of places will shut down and I will consider shutting down.

“The new business will take business away from everyone. Everybody will try the new one,” he said.

Tracey Wilson-Durmus, owner of Aspava Pizza and Kebab, on High Street, said:.

“I don’t think it is right on the existing businesses because everyone is fighting for custom.

“There is not much parking on High Street because it is busy.

“Our customers have to park quite a way down the road and walk up and at nights there are a lot of groups of kids hanging around.”

Resident Angela Grove of Bowthorn said: “15 takeaways is quite excessive, there is really little else that the town has to offer.

“It would be nice to see some shops opening, so people don’t have to travel into Whitehaven.”

The building on High Street has been vacant for two years since the bakery went into liquidation and is falling into a state of disrepair, with the front door and several windows boarded up.

Speaking at the planning meeting on behalf of the takeaway’s owner Mr A Ahad, who also owns an outlet in Whitehaven, Mrs Pattinson said that Mr Ahad’s offer was the only viable one they had received in two years, and that was still half of the asking price.