The owner of a burger van said he ‘felt like his heart has been ripped out’ after a plan for a drive-through takeaway in Reading was submitted. It has since been withdrawn.
Last year, Cube Real Esate submitted an application to Reading Borough Council build the takeaway on a patch of grass in Scours Lane, Tilehurst. It would be close to the Stadium Way Industrial Estate.
However, the owner of a burger van has expressed concerns, fearing the impact on his business.
Barry Elford, who owns Barry’s Burger Van, said in his appeal: “As we have traded there for 28 years with a catering van I’m so upset by this as this is my living.
“I feel like my heart has been ripped out.
“I’m so worried as trade is hard enough with all the food outlets in the area.”
He added: “You’ll be putting a small business out of business again through greed and power of the big chains.”
His concern was echoed by Alok Sharma, the Conservative MP for Reading West, who asked Reading Borough Council’s planning department to consider Mr Elford’s comments.
The area close to the proposed takeaway already has a large number of food outlets, including a KFC drive-through at the Reading Retail Park, Val’s Cafe in Oxford Road and Kebab Corner in Norcot Road.
In its application, Cube Real Esate said the drive-through would create 25 jobs.
Sharps Commercial real estates company, writing in support of the plan, said the area is “currently under supplied with somewhere for visitors and local residents to easily go for a drink and something to eat” and that the site is “ideally located” for the project.
Documents submitted with the application state the restaurant would cater for customers in vehicles, serve takeaway and welcome 26 eat-in diners.
It would have operated from 5.30am to 11pm Monday to Saturday, with reduced hours on Sunday, and come with 22 car parking spaces for customers, including three disabled bays, three extended bays for vans and five electric vehicle charging bays.
But other neighbours complained about the already large number of businesses in the area, arguing that the drive-through would cause traffic queues “in an already congested area”.
Objecting to the plan, Oxford Road resident Christopher Smith, said: “Vehicles turning right from Oxford Road to Scours lane frequently have to wait, causing traffic to back up on to Norcot Roundabout.
“Often traffic tries to force itself round vehicles waiting to turn by entering the bus stop and or the end of Bramshaw Road.
“Additionally, traffic turning right out of Scours Lane is often having to queue.”
He continued: “An increase of traffic is only going to compound the current problems, increase noise and the risk of accidents.
“To put additional strain on this junction and in such close proximity to it with the proposed turning can not in anyway be a good outcome.”
A transport statement submitted by the applicant concluded that journeys for the sole purpose of going to the new takeaway would be minimal.
And the the diner would be accessible by foot to visitors of Reading City Football Club, also on Scours Lane, and people living in the vicinity.
However, the application was withdrawn on Friday, February 11.
