PEOPLE planning to open takeaways in the district have been advised to chose their locations carefully to avoid becoming the latest business to be refused because of its proximity to schools or parks.

A new policy for takeaways introduced by Bradford Council last year effectively blocks any new business from opening within 400 metres of a school, park, youth centre, play area or any place large amounts of children might congregate.

It was brought in as an attempt to improve public health, and fight back against rising obesity levels in children.

The policy does not effect existing businesses, or block people from opening takeaways if they were given planning permission before the policy came in, but it means applicants were unlikely to be granted permission for such businesses in that area in future.

In the past week, applications for four takeaways have been refused by planners, with their proximity to schools, parks or children's centres cited as a major reason for the refusal.

Plans to turn a shop at 2 Whitby Terrace at Four Lane Ends into a pizza shop, submitted by Iftikhar Asghar, were refused because of the building's proximity to St Philips Primary School and St Edmunds Nursery School and Children's Centre.

An application by G Chahal to convert Aartis Newsagents on Kelmore Road in Buttershaw was refused because it was within 400 metres of Sandale Community Centre, Farfield Primary School, and a number of public open spaces.

A conversion plan to turn 81-83 Killinghall Road in Barkerend into a cafe and take away, submitted by Ayub Suleman, was turned down because it was close to schools, parks and an Islamic cultural centre.

And Azad Qazi had his application to change the use of an empty shop at 366 Girlington Road to a hot food take away refused because the building is also within 400 metres of St Edmund's Nursery and Children's Centre.

Councillor Val Slater, executive for planning on Bradford Council, said: "It is good to see that this new policy is working in blocking takeaways in these areas, as the purpose of this policy is to protect the health of young people in the district.

"When we consulted on the policy, comments were positive, especially from health professionals who recognise the obesity issue in Bradford.

"It isn't anti business, it is about people being responsible when they are setting up a business. Look at all aspects, including how close they are to schools or parks, and make yourself aware of what the regulations are.

"If the people behind these applications had done that they would have saved themselves a lot of time and money."

Other plans refused since the policy was introduced include one on Leeds Road, which would have been just 50 metres from a recreation ground in Upper Seymour Street, and an application to turn part of a shop in Thornbury near a community centre and schools into a grilled food take away.