Doctors object to new takeaway

DOCTORS in Nailsea are waging war on a pizza chain due to fears about their patients’ health.

Staff at Tower House Medical Centre have objected to a planning application for a new Domino’s Pizza takeaway at 16 Crown Glass Place as they say people should be encouraged to eat healthily and stay clear of junk food.

Like many GP surgeries across the country, staff at Tower House Medical Centre are constantly battling with the effects of junk food and urging people to stay fit and healthy.

Dr Timothy Southwood, director of Woodspring Healthcare and owner of Tower House Medical Centre, said: “Pizza is a high calorie food with excessive fat content which is not healthy to eat.

“North Somerset Council is endeavouring to improve the health of its residents and this proposal is in direct contradiction to its endeavours and should be rejected for that reason.

“Nailsea already has an excess of unhealthy fast food outlets and another one should be rejected.”

According to the NHS website, unhealthy eating can cause a number of conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type two diabetes and leaves people more at risk of heart disease, strokes, asthma, depression, chronic back pain, infertility and osteoarthritis.

Commenting on the application on the council’s website, Carole Brooke, practice manager at the medical centre in Stock Way South, said: “As a primary care organisation situated in the centre of Nailsea, we have an obligation to assist in the maintenance and improvement of the health of our population.

“At a time when the Government and the NHS is encouraging healthy eating in order to maintain good health and prevent long term conditions such as diabetes, the practice feels that another fast food outlet in Nailsea is inappropriate. There is already a kebab and burger outlet very close to this proposed outlet.”

Neighbours have also raised concerns about the lack of parking facilities for staff and customers, noise and litter pollution and Sunday opening times.

Pizza giant Dominos is a worldwide company with 620 UK stores. Commenting on its plans for Nailsea, a spokesman for Domino’s Pizza said: “Opening a new store in Nailsea would generate around 25 – 35 new jobs for local people and it will be operated as a local business.

“Domino’s Pizza takes its role as a responsible neighbour very seriously and our franchises work very hard to play an active role in the community, not only to deliver great tasting pizza but also to support numerous local charities, groups and events.

“Our customers order, on average, every 34 days – a Domino’s Pizza is an indulgent treat that can be shared by the whole family.

“We also provide full nutritional information, as well as details of the quality and provenance of our ingredients, on our website.”