Plans for a new fish and chip shop in Morfa Bychan, Gwynedd, are facing opposition from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which is urging the inclusion of healthier options like fruit and vegetables on the menu.
The health board has raised concerns about the impact of increased fast food outlets on public health, calling for the proposed takeaway to offer a “good selection” of fruit and vegetables. The board is also pushing for a menu with reduced fat, salt, and sugar content, citing the potential negative effects of more fast food options on the local population.
The health board emphasized that while the area is popular with tourists, who drive demand for such food during holiday seasons, these takeaways also serve local residents year-round. “This is of particular concern for local permanent residents where this food is available throughout the year and not just during holiday periods,” the board stated.
The board warned that greater access to fast food could lead to rising obesity rates. “Increased access to unhealthy food retail outlets can be associated with increased weight status in the general population and increased obesity and unhealthy eating behaviours among children residing in low-income areas,” the board added.
Although the health board acknowledged that this is only one additional takeaway, it expressed concern that even one more fast food outlet could contribute to a growing problem.
Local authorities in Porthmadog have also voiced their objections, labelling the proposal an “overdevelopment” for the area, with too many businesses already clustered in a small space. They also warned that the new takeaway could lead to traffic and parking issues, noting there is already a chip shop in the vicinity.
The application to convert the empty building into a takeaway was submitted in August. This is not the first time a health board has raised concerns over such plans. Last year, KFC challenged planning policies that restricted new hot food takeaways in at least 43 councils in England, winning over half of those cases.
According to Public Health Wales, the cost of obesity to the NHS in Wales is currently estimated at £73 million, and that figure is expected to rise to £465 million by 2050.
The health board has been asked to comment further on the matter.
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