Concerns over the intense number of takeaways hit a plan for a new cafe in the university area of Reading.

Coffee Corner applied to set up shop in the Redserve Heating store at 56 Christchurch Road, which has been vacant for more than15 years.

But a neighbour spoke out about the impact ‘too many’ takeaways along Christchurch Road is having on residents.

Terri Brown, who lives nearby, raised concerns that roof extractors are directed at neighbour’s properties, causing disturbed sleep at night.

READ MORE: Plan for takeaway in Christchurch Road refused over anti social behaviour concerns

She said: “The fumes are not massive but they are intrusive, and also there’s noise from 11am to beyond 11pm at night.

“They’re not massive but they are intrusive.

“You can’t go to sleep with the noise.”

She added that she had moved her bedroom in her home because of the noise.

Terri Brown also voiced concern about the intense concentration of takeaways in the area.

Along that stretch of Christchurch Road, there are six eateries with takeaway functions: Greggs, Kung Fu Kitchen, Cafe Metro, Domino's, Sizzling Spice and SLAM Burger.

Terri Brown said another takeaway would be “quite intrusive”.

Councillor Jane Stanford-Beale (Conservative, Peppard) asked her whether another takeaway was needed, to which she replied: “No please. We’re such a lovely residential area.

“We don’t need another takeaway. The rubbish is the biggest problem of all, parking is not helpful, please no. We’ve really got enough takeaways.

“It’s a disturbance to the area.”

READ MORE: Doner and Gyros takeaway set to open in Reading

She also raised an issue over parking.

Although parking along the road is restricted to 30 minutes only, she said customers sometimes resort to blocking neighbour’s driveways.

The plan was deferred at the meeting Terry Brown spoke at for further clarification on parking, litter management and recommended conditions to put on the cafe to mitigate its impact on neighbours.

You can view coverage of that meeting on December 1, 2021, here: 

The plan for Coffee Corner was approved after extensive conditions which include:

  • Defining the opening hours from 9am to 11pm Monday to Saturday, 9am to 10pm on Sunday and Bank Holidays
  • Delivery and waste collection hours restricted d to 9am to 6pm on Mondays to Saturdays and 10am to 5pm on Sundays or Bank Holidays
  • The applicants must devise an litter strategy for council approval
  • The extractor fan must be installed in accordance with a council noise assessment prior to opening
  • An odour assessment must be carried out

You can view plans and conditions in full by typing reference 210854/FUL into the council’s planning portal here: http://planning.reading.gov.uk/fastweb_PL/welcome.asp

It was presented at both meetings by officer Tom Hughes and approved unanimously on January 12.

A previous application to convert the building into a takeaway was refused in March last year due to a lack of information being submitted by the applicant at the time.