Public health officials calling Wakefield Council to reject drive-thru diner over obesity fears

The fast food restaurant would be built in the town's Bridge Street car park

Author: Demi OlutunmogunPublished 8th Feb 2022
Last updated 8th Feb 2022

There are calls for a controversial drive-thru diner to be refused in Castleford.

Public health officials want to see the plans for the fast food restaurant in Bridge Street car park scrapped, citing the 'prevalence of obesity' in the town as their reason.

Proposals were first submitted in April last year, but Wakefield Council is yet to pass a decision.

A health impact assessment carried out by the applicants, at the council's request, said customers would be able to make informed decisions over what they eat.

It said:

"An operator for the development has not been confirmed.

"However, due to the size of the unit including indoor seating, this provides an opportunity for an operator to provide a choice of menu which would allow customers to make a choice about the type of food they consume."

However, public health official John Wilcox wrote that the developers' analysis, "Fails to show convincingly that the proposed development will not have overall negative health impacts."

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