New takeaway to open on street ‘with everything’
BACKING FOR FAST-FOOD OUTLET AS IT WILL ADD TO THE VARIETY
BUSINESSES have welcomed a new takeaway to a street “where everything is right at your doorstep”.
A new takeaway will be allowed to open on Alfreton Road, Radford, at an empty butcher’s, after Nottingham City Council gave the go-ahead to plans on June 20.
The building is currently vacant and there are flats on the upper floor. The designs suggest no major changes will be made to the existing shop front.
Local workers on Alfreton Road thought the new takeaway could add to the road’s variety of independent businesses, although some had concerns over parking and whether the takeaway would be too similar to other eateries.
Sandra Naktiniene, 32, who works at Kaya Food Centre, said the new takeaway showed the amount of choice available nearby.
“It is a nice street full of choice, you can get anything here. This road alone is a convenient street and stops people from having to travel as everything is right at your doorstep.
“It is quite busy and there are lots of students around, with plans to make more student accommodation nearby, which is promising for business. There’s a wide selection on the row, it’s very competitive at the moment.”
Beverley Orellana, 63, owner of the Music Inn, said: “The road doesn’t come alive till night. Lots of students support the shops but no families are living here any more, which does affect business.
“I would like to see more retail rather than fast food. Parking is lacking with the restaurants, we could definitely do with parking meters as sales reps can’t even come because of parking.”
Adam Omer, 26, owner of Bucuresti Minimarket, said: “It’s a good road for business. Student flats will help make it more busy.
“At first it was good, then Covid made it harder as lots of people are still concerned over it. Lots of regular customers visit. There are too many takeaways and burger shops in a competitive area. “There is lots of opportunity on this road. There should be ice cream parlours or breakfast bars to add some variation.”
Claire Lynch, 40, who works at The Organ Grinder, added: “It’s not great for independent businesses as it is mainly takeaways or hairdressers. Everyone’s competing for the same thing. There’s lots of local support from loyal customers. But the parking is a disadvantage as people are unable to park close by.”
A decision notice, issued by Nottingham City Council, said: “The proposal would have a positive economic benefit by bringing a vacant unit back into use, and would be compatible in terms of its use and scale with the other commercial units along this stretch of the Alfreton Road Local Centre. Although there are other restaurants and hot food takeaways within the Local Centre, the immediate frontage within which this unit is situated is not dominated by F&B uses and the proposal would not result in an over concentration of takeaway uses, thereby maintaining the vitality and viability of the Local Centre.
“The surrounding area is largely commercial and due to the site’s location on a busy arterial road there would be no adverse impact on the amenities of neighbouring occupiers in terms of loss of privacy and noise.”
It is a nice street full of choice, you can get anything here. It’s very competitive.
Sandra Naktiniene