Bosses put £400k takeaway on menu

OWNERS OF TOP RESTAURANT HAVE PLANS FOR SALESROOM

THE businessmen behind one of Huddersfield’s top restaurants are planning to spend £400,000 on turning a former car salesroom at Waterloo into a takeaway.

George Brown and Simon Docherty, of Harvey’s at Fenay Bridge, said they successfully used Harvey’s to develop a takeaway function during the pandemic but say it was only ever intended for restaurant food.

So, George snapped up the commercial garage – which has stood on the site since the 1960s – and is less than a mile or so from Harvey’s.

But although there are many supporters of the plan, of the 50 or so comments on the planning application some are negative.

Several residents fear there are already too many takeaways in the area, as well as highlighting potential traffic and social issues including an increase in litter and encouraging gangs of youths to hang around. One wrote: “I have never heard of anything so stupid as to have a takeaway on such a busy junction.

“Has everyone gone mad? There too many takeaways in Waterloo anyway, it is absolute madness.”

And Kirklees councillor Mus Khan, (Lab, Dalton), wrote: “Many of the residents are vulnerable elderly, with some households in receipt of social care.

“Crown Motors was open from 8am till 4.30pm and the noise was minimal. This application is seeking consent for operational times to be extended from 7am to 11pm and will no doubt increase the amount of noise and littering in the vicinity, as well as possibly attracting more antisocial behaviour.

“The noise will have a detrimental impact on the residents’ peaceful residence in and around the immediate area. There are already five unhealthy hot food outlets.

“I see the business is invited to work with FINE, (an organisation which promotes healthy eating).

“However, there is no stipulation once granted permission that healthy hot food is promoted nor any powers to enforce any food outlet to serve healthy food.”

But Simon said: “This would be a joint venture transferring the takeaway side of Harvey’s to Crown Motors.

“All the statutory consultees that Kirklees is obliged to consult are 100 per cent are saying ‘yes’ to it. It will be a shock if we don’t get permission.”

And he stressed the aim would be serve healthy food. There will be plenty of car parking for staff and customers too, he said.

Harvey’s has become wildly successful since George and Simon set it up several years ago.

£1m was spent on extending soon after it began business at the former Star pub on Penistone Road.

Then the brand was exported to Holmfirth where it replaced Brambles opposite the bus station.

And the duo also have plans lodged with Kirklees to turn TriBeCa and the former newsagents next door on Westgate into a Harvey’s restaurant.

A decision is due to be made at a planning subcommittee meeting on Thursday, October 21.