A COUNCIL is clamping down on hot food takeaways as a way to clean up high streets.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is drawing up a policy to try to curb the wave of such businesses moving into empty shops.

Cabinet members this week agreed to a draft interim planning policy in response to concerns from the Redcar Business Association and Guisborough Town Council.

There are fears the increase in takeaways is reducing the variety of outlets and customer choice.

Council leader Councillor George Dunning last night welcomed the decision, highlighting problems caused by the takeaways' opening hours.

He said: "While there is a demand and a place for takeaways, the proliferation of so many takeaways in some areas has virtually got to saturation point.

"Some of the takeaways' hours of opening are a concern to many residents, as a lot of them open early evening and close very late at night, while during office hours they are invariably closed, and the sight of several steel shutters can give the appearance that a small town looks shut down until evening time."

The council's current policies are based on the impact on residential amenity and the character of the area.

These criteria are considered still relevant as planning considerations, but it is believed that the policy needs to be strengthened to prevent the proliferation of such shops in an area where they could harm the character of the area.

The policy is to include criteria which control the proportion of hot food takeaways in commercial units, to prevent clusters of them.

The rules will also set out negotiation with developers, to mitigate the impact of such shops, for instance by making contributions towards litter collection and street cleansing services.

The draft policy will be subject to consultation with town and parish councils, local businesses, interested groups and local people for a six-week period next month and in March, before being adopted by the council for use in the consideration of planning applications.