No Fry Zone around schools is adopted

A ‘No Fry Zone’ preventing fast food outlets from opening within 400 metres of schools was adopted by councillors at Monday’s meeting of Wicklow County Council.

Greystones residents, who have campaigned for almost four years to stop a fast food outlet being built near three schools and then to include ‘no fry zones’ in Wicklow’s County Development Plan (CDP), say they are ‘utterly delighted’ by the result of Monday’s council meeting, which voted 25 to 3 to exclude any new fast food outlets or takeaways from being built near schools or playgrounds. Three councillors abstained and two were absent from the debate.

‘We are utterly delighted that the majority of Wicklow councillors have voted in favour of adopting Objective RT 17 (No Fry Zones around schools) into the County Development Plan,’ said Philip Moyles, Chairman of No Fry Zones 4 Kids.

Fast food outlets are to be prevented from opening near schools in the future, with a ‘No Fry Zone’ included in the Wicklow County Development Plan.

A ‘No Fry Zone’ objective has been ratified by Wicklow County Council, with 25 out of 32 councillors voting to adopt it during discussion on the Wicklow County Development Plan 2016-2022 at Monday’s meeting of the council. Council members voted last summer to include the no fry zone in the draft plan. The inclusion of the No Fry Zone (objective RT 17) means that fast food restaurants will be prohibited from opening near schools. The no fry zone campaign was led by the No Fry 4 Kids Committee, arising out of plans by McDonald’s to open at the Blacklion Centre in Greystones, close to three local schools. Despite planning permission being granted, site owners Lidl pulled out of the deal in November 2015.‘ This is a significant victory for the No Fry Zone campaign as the wording of the objective is specific and provides the clarity needed to ensure consistent planning decisions are made regarding how close fast food outlets should be to schools,’ said spokesman Philip Moyles. ‘It is the first such objective in Ireland with a distance of 400 metres specified based on evidence produced during various studies over the past 20 years or so. ‘ This distance is meaningful and effective which should over time go some way towards reducing obesity particularly in school children. We especially thank the six councillors from Greystones Municipal District. Their unity across party lines never wavered, they gave us us their support from the very start.’ He said that the campaign will be looking to Ministers Corcoran, Kennedy and Harris to implement no fry zones around schools nationally. No fry zones have been introduced in County Wexford, Fingal and Dun Laoghaire. RT 17 excludes any new fast food or takeaway outlet from being built or from operating within 400m of the gates or site boundary of schools or playgrounds, excluding premises zoned town centre. Fast food outlets and takeaways with proposed drive-through facilities will generally only be acceptable within major town centres or district centres and will be assessed on a case-bycase basis.

A new ‘No Fry Zone’ has been included in the County Development Plan which will prevent new fast food outlets from opening within 400m of a school or playground in non-town centres.

The initiative was passed by councillors with 25 votes in favour, three against, two abstentions and two not present.

Cllr Derek Mitchell thanked the ‘No Fry Zone’ group for first raising the matter.

‘ There is a major issue with obesity in this country which needs to be tackled,’ he said.

Cllr Irene Winters wanted a reference to playgrounds removed.

‘ There are playgrounds within 400 metres in Newtown, Ashford and Rathnew. They sell food but not usually during school hours, usually at night, for example, after pub closing times.’

Cllr Pat Vance felt it was a matter which should be left to parents.

‘It’s a decision that must be made by parents to bring their children to take aways. Besides I don’t think this will have any influence over obese levels in Greystones,’ said Cllr Vance.

Grainne McLoughlin offered the ‘No Fry Zone’ her full backing.

‘Its hugely important and shows Wicklow is leading the way in Ireland. We have a major problem and one that is not sustainable.

‘ This is good for the health of our children and adults going forward and is a step to stop us from becoming the most obese country in the EU.’

Also lending the move her support was Cllr Nicola Lawless.

‘It won’t solve the obesity problem but it shows we are on the right path.’

Cllr Vincent Blake hoped the amendment wouldn’t impact on plans for a playground in Carnew.

‘ The new playground for Carnew will probably be within 100 metres of fast food outlets and I hope this won’t hold it up.’

Cllr Mary Kavanagh regarded the amendment as progressive, saying: ‘it’s fine to say it should be up to the parents but the parents are often the reason their children are obese in the first place.’

Cllr Nicola Lawless said that the six Greystones District Councillors had worked together with parents, residents and health experts to being about the amendment.

‘I would like to thank the No Fry Zone team that worked so hard on this proposal, and those that supported this amendment by sending submissions to the Council as part of the development plan process,’ she said.