A Jamaican restaurant in East London has been shut down because it is located within 400 meters of a secondary school. The shutdown is part of a Draconian campaign against child obesity.
Story From the DAILY MAIL:
Fast food police: Caribbean takeaway closed down for opening too close to schools
By Dan Newling
Last updated at 8:34 PM on 20th April 2009
The hit squad had prepared their raid long in advance.
At 10am eight police officers, some in anti-stab vests, joined three council employees on the doorstep of the Bamboo Joint takeaway.
Their mission? To stamp out the practice of selling jerk chicken within 400 metres of a secondary school.
Shut down: Police officers guard the Bamboo Joint takeaway in Leytonstone after it was closed yesterday for opening up too close to schools.
Yesterday, the Jamaican cafe in Leytonstone, East London, became the first takeaway in the country to be given a closure order under guidelines banning the sale of fast food near educational establishments.
Its owners were given three days to shut up shop.
They were informed by Waltham Forest Council that their small premises, on a busy high street, was not only within 400 metres of a secondary school but also within 200 metres of a primary school and 100 metres from a public park.
The action is intended to combat child obesity by reducing the number of shops selling unhealthy fast food near schools and parks.
Co-owner Maureen Farrell, who opened the Bamboo Joint six weeks ago, said she felt she was being victimised by a council which was acting 'completely over the top'.
'They told us that it's because we are too near a school, but this street is full of takeaways selling fish and chips and burgers.
Enforcement officers serve the takeaway with a closure order for breaching orders about fast food outlets near schools, parks and leisure centres.
'It's ridiculous. They just arrived here this morning and told us they were shutting us down. It looks like we are terrorists or something.
'But all we are doing is selling good food. It's not even unhealthy. We sell Jamaican-style rice and peas, and jerk chicken.
'It is not greasy stuff. And we hardly have any schoolchildren in here at all.'
The bylaw was introduced by Labour-dominated Waltham Forest in March and applies only to those takeaways yet to receive planning permission.
It prevents them from opening close to one another and puts a limit on the total number in the borough's town centres.
The fast food ban has not been adopted nationwide but its progress is being monitored by other local authorities who could copy it.
Council leader Clyde Loakes said: 'This fast food outlet has not got planning permission and has absolutely no chance of getting it, because of its proximity to a park and a school, so we're closing it down.
'A lot of fast food outlets do their business with schoolchildren, in competition with the healthy schools agenda. We have a responsibility to look beyond the next year or two to the health of our children and young people.'
The Metropolitan Police was unable to explain why it had such a strong presence in the raid.
Story From the DAILY MAIL:
Fast food police: Caribbean takeaway closed down for opening too close to schools
By Dan Newling
Last updated at 8:34 PM on 20th April 2009
The hit squad had prepared their raid long in advance.
At 10am eight police officers, some in anti-stab vests, joined three council employees on the doorstep of the Bamboo Joint takeaway.
Their mission? To stamp out the practice of selling jerk chicken within 400 metres of a secondary school.
Shut down: Police officers guard the Bamboo Joint takeaway in Leytonstone after it was closed yesterday for opening up too close to schools.
Yesterday, the Jamaican cafe in Leytonstone, East London, became the first takeaway in the country to be given a closure order under guidelines banning the sale of fast food near educational establishments.
Its owners were given three days to shut up shop.
They were informed by Waltham Forest Council that their small premises, on a busy high street, was not only within 400 metres of a secondary school but also within 200 metres of a primary school and 100 metres from a public park.
The action is intended to combat child obesity by reducing the number of shops selling unhealthy fast food near schools and parks.
Co-owner Maureen Farrell, who opened the Bamboo Joint six weeks ago, said she felt she was being victimised by a council which was acting 'completely over the top'.
'They told us that it's because we are too near a school, but this street is full of takeaways selling fish and chips and burgers.
Enforcement officers serve the takeaway with a closure order for breaching orders about fast food outlets near schools, parks and leisure centres.
'It's ridiculous. They just arrived here this morning and told us they were shutting us down. It looks like we are terrorists or something.
'But all we are doing is selling good food. It's not even unhealthy. We sell Jamaican-style rice and peas, and jerk chicken.
'It is not greasy stuff. And we hardly have any schoolchildren in here at all.'
The bylaw was introduced by Labour-dominated Waltham Forest in March and applies only to those takeaways yet to receive planning permission.
It prevents them from opening close to one another and puts a limit on the total number in the borough's town centres.
The fast food ban has not been adopted nationwide but its progress is being monitored by other local authorities who could copy it.
Council leader Clyde Loakes said: 'This fast food outlet has not got planning permission and has absolutely no chance of getting it, because of its proximity to a park and a school, so we're closing it down.
'A lot of fast food outlets do their business with schoolchildren, in competition with the healthy schools agenda. We have a responsibility to look beyond the next year or two to the health of our children and young people.'
The Metropolitan Police was unable to explain why it had such a strong presence in the raid.
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