Residents in one wealthy seaside town are leading a revolt against plans for its eighth chip shop over fears the resort is ‘under threat’ from fast food businesses.
The affluent town of Sheringham, Norfolk, was recently named one of the least affordable places to live in the country and has previously been awarded the Blue Flag award for its clean and sandy beaches.
But fed-up locals fear their pretty high street is being ruined by a glut of fast food joints catering to tourists.
The town is already home to 40 takeaways, including five fish and chip shops within 500m of each other, and residents are now fighting plans to open yet another chippy.
‘The firmly held view is that Sheringham’s conservation area is under threat by this planning application and others like it,’ the town council fumed in a statement to North Norfolk District Council.
It comes after fast food chain Domino’s was thwarted in its bid to open a branch of its pizza chain.
‘How many more pizza establishments does a town need?’ demanded one objector.
‘Sheringham is not, beansville Yarmouth or Lowestoft, it does still have a bit of individuality and class left. Naff off Domino’s and take your chavvy muck with you!
Locals living in the posh seaside town of Sheringham fear their plush resort is being blighted by a growing glut of takeaways
The Norfolk town is home to 40 takeaways including five fish and chip shops within 500m of each other
Sheringham Town Council argued the town is ‘under threat’ from its excessive amount of food businesses
And even existing fish and chop shops have joined in the chorus of protest, insisting that saturation point has been reached.
‘It’s a bit unfair for smaller businesses that have been here for years if more are allowed, particularly chains,’ said Leah Brindley, 18, who has worked at Dave’s Fish Shop for two years.
‘More diversity would be good for Sheringham.’
‘People feel strongly about it but, for us, we have our locals who wouldn’t go anywhere else.’
‘How utterly ridiculous,’ said Sylvia Jackson.
‘Use some imagination. A sandwich shop would be better.’
‘Can we get something more unique,’ demanded another local.
The town council has recommended refusal over a lack of adequate waste disposal and bin storage, with the committee too claiming that a new takeaway would be ‘against public health policy.’
And the council has claimed the future of the resort is ‘under threat’ from the restaurants catering to tourists.
‘We would like the district council to use its powers to reject this application and ensure that only an application that protects the wellbeing of its residents and visitors and respects the unique features of our conservation area will ever be approved,’ they wrote.
Sarah Castle (left) and husband Keith (right) travelled from Yorkshire to spend the day in Sheringham
Linda Lambert (left) and her husband Frank (right) say they’ve noticed shops closing in the area
But many visitors to the historic town say they look forward to the choice of food on offer, and many have left glowing reviews on sits such as Tripadvisor.com.
‘You might think I am one chip short of a takeaway to drive 64 miles to sit down to fish and chips,’ wrote one reviewer of Stevensons Fish and Chips in the High Street. ‘We’ll I am perfectly sane and in full possession of my cutlery.
‘I have eaten literally hundreds of portions of fish & chips from all around Great Britain & Europe & I can honestly say the food from here is possibly the best f & c we have had,’ wrote another about The Sheringham Trawler a few doors down.
Sarah Castle, 70, and husband Keith, 82, had travelled from Yorkshire to spend the day in Norfolk.
‘We always have fish and chips by the seaside as it’s our favourite takeaway,’ said Mrs Castle.
‘It is good to have a choice in the summer. It saves you queueing when they are all busy.’
Customers at Dave’s Fish Shop, Linda Lambert, 75, and her husband Frank, 77, are regulars visitors to Sheringham.
Linda added: ‘Fish and chips is always a treat when you visit the coast. It isn’t complete without it.
‘We’ve noticed shops closing but there seems to be more new places opening up.
‘But we always go to the same place. ‘
