THE Local Government Ombudsman is being asked to investigate alleged maladministration by Tower Hamlets Council in East London over a planning application for a controversial takeaway next to a school. The plan for a Fried & Fabulous’ fast-food outlet was quashed by the High Court on Friday, having been passed three times by the authority
THE Local Government Ombudsman is being asked to investigate alleged maladministration by Tower Hamlets Council in East London over a planning application for a controversial takeaway next to a school.
The plan for a 'Fried & Fabulous' fast-food outlet next to Bishop Challenor Secondary was quashed by the High Court on Friday, having been passed three times by the authority's planning committee and twice overturned.
Furious families along Cable Street in Shadwell are contacting the Ombudsman after the council went ahead despite groundswell opposition from the community, police and even the authority's own planning officers.
Grandmother Linda Carney, who lives opposite the proposed takeaway and led the protest, said today: "The East End has the second highest obesity rate in country and I want my grandchildren to eat healthily. It's a temptation when they see someone with bag of chips and want some themselves."
Friday's High Court action could cost council taxpayers as much as �250,000 in legal costs, including �80,000 costs to residents, in addition to a previous judicial review which also ruled against the plans.
Residents got an injunction on May 14 to stop shop owner Tera Miah carrying out a hurried conversion on the former grocery store, which the High Court rules on next Friday.
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