Proposed new Corby takeaway will ruin us claim rivals

Plans to turn a former Corby dry cleaners into a Chinese takeaway have been objected to by competitors who say a new rival in the current Covid climate could be catastrophic. Othman Hassan wants to turn tailoring and repairs shop Steven James in New Post Office Square into a takeaway restaurant specialising in Cantonese food. But a few competitors, including the owner of the Corby Cafe which is just four doors down, have written to Corby Council to object to the planned change of use. In a letter sent in June owner of the Corby Cafe Ali Erdem said there are already 16 food places in the town centre and there is not room for another one. He said: “I have been serving the public with quality takeaway food for 17 years. In the current climate we are faced with uncertainty like many other businesses; we work 12 hour days, seven days a week to try and push through and survive as a business. “Having another takeaway so near to my premises and other food premises, would have a devastating effect on my business at this current time. Other takeaways are struggling on New Post Office Square, with The Schooner fish and chips takeaway being closed and possibly unlikely to re-open.” The owner of the Smoke Hut has also put in an objection. The letter says: “Me and some other shop owners around town are not happy another cafe/takeaway is opening, we have far too many and many are closed as there is too much competition and no-one can afford running there [sic] own and with more opening it’s making other cafe/restaurants going bust. We need to be fair with all our businesses and give everyone the opportunity to make a earning from there [sic] own businesses. We don’t need another cafe so that a [sic] existing cafe goes bust.” The dry cleaners closed last year although Mr Hassan still has a lease with the building management company that manages Corby town centre until 2023. In a planning statement report to the council, MGM group consultants says a takeaway at the site, which is one of the entrance points to the shopping complex would ‘improve the vitality and viability of the overall shopping and social environment’. It also says the food sold will ‘predominately [sic] be Cantonese recipe with a mixture of chicken shawarma, meat shawarma, fresh tandoori bread, doner kebab and chips, all of which will be prepared on site.’ The change of use will be decided at the development control committee meeting on Wednesday (October 7) which can be viewed on the council’s YouTube channel. The recommendation is to approve the change of use. The council’s officer report says: “It is considered that the proposed change of use of the unit from A1 (Launderette) to A5 (Hot Food Takeaway) is acceptable. The development would not adversely affect the amenity of adjoining neighbours and would not be detrimental to highway safety. Furthermore, it is considered that the development is not detrimental to the character of the local area.”