PLANS to turn a former butcher shop in Barnsley into a takeaway have been turned down because of its close proximity to three local schools - and almost half of youngsters in the ward are classed as overweight.

An application for work to take place at the former shop on Agnes Road was submitted to the council in March.

The change would have seen a new hot food takeaway added to the Kingstone ward but the plans were rejected after a number of residents - as well as Barnsley Council’s public health team - opposed the plans.

A report states: “The development site is within 800 metres of Joseph Locke Primary School, Shawlands Primary School and Holy Rood Catholic Primary School, and several green spaces, including Locke Park and other smaller areas with children’s play equipment.

“The proposed hot food takeaway would therefore be within walking distance of schools and other places where children and young people congregate.

“The adopted HFT PAN establishes that levels of overweight and obesity are a health concern within Barnsley as 67.8 per cent of Barnsley adults are either overweight or obese which is 3.8 per cent higher than the national average.

“Over a third of Barnsley’s ten to 11 year olds are also overweight or obese, including 23.2 percent of five year olds.

“A total of 22.2 per cent of four to five year olds and 43.1 per cent of ten to 11 year olds within the Kingstone ward are overweight or obese.

“It also sets out that proposals for hot foot takeaways in an electoral ward where the proportion of ten to 11 year olds classified as being overweight or obese exceeds 40 per cent the proposal is more likely to conflict with the NPPF.

“Public Health colleagues have objected to this proposal on this basis.

“This proposal would contribute to a localised concentration of hot food takeaways within an electoral ward that experiences high levels of children being classified as overweight or obese.”

Concerns were also raised over noise and odour impacts on local residents.

The plans have subsequently been rejected by Barnsley Council’s planning board.

The report added: “This proposal constitutes unacceptable development in principle that would contribute to a localised concentration of hot food takeaways in an electoral ward which observes high levels of children being classified as overweight or obese.

“In addition, insufficient details have been submitted to allow the full consideration of potential impacts in respect of residential amenity, heath and pollution control.

“Moderate and modest weight is attributed to the impacts of this proposal upon highway safety, visual amenity and biodiversity and geodiversity in favour of development.

“However, whilst there are some minor positive elements to this proposal, these are not considered to outweigh the negative elements of this proposal which is unacceptable in principle and in respect of its impact on residential amenity, health and pollution control and which is supported by insufficient information.

“As such, this application is recommended for refusal.”