Thatcham takeaway turned down – but you can still buy a meal to take away

The Lamb Inn, Long Lane, recently applied for a change in its permission to include running the takeaway, alongside the pub and Indian restaurant.
However, it was turned down amid fears that once permission had been granted, there was a possibility that a McDonald’s style eatery could open there.
Ash Khaliq, who took over the business a year ago, was told by West Berkshire Council officers that he would need to make the takeaway business official, as although the previous owner had also run a takeaway, they had not applied for the relevant change of use permission.
In his report, the council’s leader of development control, Derek Carnegie, recommended the plan for approval, adding that there was a need to support the venture and that in this conomic climate, extending the use of the building to include a takeaway could improve business.
He also added that as there were no official guidelines as to what was considered ancillary use and what was considered main use, he believed the business could continue regardless of the outcome of the decision.
Speaking to councillors at the western area planning meeting last Wednesday, he said: “It’s a grey area whether ancillary becomes the main use.
“If you say no, it can continue as ancillary use.”
The committee decision went against Mr Carnegie’s recommendation, with some members voicing concerns that the pub could end up closing in favour of the takeaway business if that was more financially successful.
Despite assurances from the agent for the application, Clive Newton, who said that nothing would change at the pub, Hilary Cole (Con, Chieveley) said: “I’m worried about setting a precedent.”
She was joined in her objections by Cold Ash Parish Council, which said that once the building was approved as a takeaway business, it meant fastfood businesses could open there in the future.
However, some members called this reaction “alarmist”.
Andrew Rowles (Con, Kintbury), said that local pubs should be supported, and George Chandler (Con, Downlands) said he thought that the district council was over-reacting.
“We have caused this situation ourselves,” he said.
“We should be supporting anybody who is trying to keep a pub going.”
The application was refused on the grounds of the possible increased use of the takeaway and the impact this could have on the rural character, but Mr Carnegie told the committee that “not a lot” would actually change at the pub on the basis of this decision.