New takeaway proposed for Oldham town centre despite parking concerns

A shipping container takeaway could soon be serving hot food at the busy junction of Silver Street and Peter Street in Oldham town centre, despite warnings it will worsen illegal parking problems. The proposal will be decided by Oldham Council's planning committee on Wednesday, March 11, after the council's own Highway Engineer raised serious concerns about the impact on traffic and safety.

The site currently provides parking spaces next to Clean Plate Kitchen and opposite the Spindles Shopping Centre multi-storey car park. The Highway Engineer objected to the plans, warning that takeaway customers typically park as close as possible to premises, making illegal parking 'highly likely' near the traffic lights at the junction with Union Street.

The engineer's report highlighted that illegal parking would increase congestion, obstruct visibility for drivers, and create 'conflict between road users' at this already busy intersection. The report also noted that short-term illegal parking is 'difficult to enforce' and there are 'no practical measures' to prevent it.

Despite these warnings, planning officers have recommended approval of the application. They argue that parking is available on Silver Street and at nearby car parks, and that it 'cannot be assumed that customers would park illegally' when making planning decisions. The recommendation states the concerns are 'not judged to be of sufficient magnitude to robustly justify a recommendation of refusal'.

The application has attracted additional scrutiny because the applicant is a direct relative of Cllr Shoab Akhtar, who sits on the planning committee. This family connection is why committee members must vote on the proposal rather than allowing officers to decide it through delegated powers.