Owners of ‘smash burger' trailer ‘gutted' after being forced to close – because it's too close to primary schools

The Sun

05-05-2025

THE owners of a smash burger van are 'gutted' after the council forced it to shut for being too close to local primary schools.
Co-owners Sam Carroll, 21, and Aaron Millar, 21, lost their bid for permission to house their smash burger takeaway trailer Smokies on the carpark of Dunkirk Hall pub in Leyland, Lancs.
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The burger-loving duo employ 18 locals but will now have to halve their staff numbers.
South Ribble Borough Council threw out the bid based on a new law banning takeaways within 'walking distance' of school gates.
They also said the trailer damaged the appearance of the Grade II listed building opposite.
Owner Sam fumed this was 'ridiculous', insisting kids barely ever come to buy burgers after school.
The pub itself, Dunkirk Hall, said it wanted the burger van to stay put.
Sam said: 'It took less than 10 minutes for them to decide that we had to move on from the location - it felt like instant disregard.
'The community love our food - they go out of their way to tell us how much they enjoy it and leaving reviews.
'We are a small business which has grown so much thanks to the word of mouth of our customers.
'We don't want to have to fire our staff - they have done nothing wrong.
'We will do whatever it takes to keep it open - we want to work with the council to come to work out a way.'
The young entrepreneurs took up the plot on November 8 last year after a good year at The Red Lion pub in Longton, near Preston, Lancs.
To secure their new location, they applied for planning permission from the council a couple of months later, in mid January 2025.
The black trailer takes up three spaces behind trees and bushes in one corner of the 40 square metre carpark.
They also have a two chilled storage sheds next door.
But they were "shocked" to find the application rejected in mid-April based on the proximity to school.
There are four primary schools and one preschool within a 0.4 to 0.6 mile radius of the van - and the trailer is not in a town centre, which would make it exempt.
Sam said: 'It is isn't often kids come and get a burger after school - especially while in uniform.'
'If a child does come up to the van they are usually with their parents who are enjoying their evening at the pub.
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'They'll order for them, normally getting the kid one of our kids' meals."
Demi Scott, manager of Dunkirk Hall, said kids under the age of 18 aren't allowed to gather near the boozer without a parent anyway.
The 24-year-old said: 'If a child came onto the premises by themselves, we would turn them away - we legally can't have them here.
'We don't want to lose Smokies - the community they have brought has been super beneficial keeping us going in the tougher months.
'They are no hassle at all very polite - they have never taken a step wrong.
'The van is out of the way of the building so I don't see what the problem is - I really hope it comes to a fair conclusion.'
Council planning officer Debbie Roberts admitted that walking distance was 'subjective', because it is not defined in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
However, a report presented to the council stated that 'on balance' the spot was likely in breach of the rules, with the schools just a 10 minute walk away.
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The new local regulations are yet to come into force but were included within the proposed Central Lancashire Local Plan.
The regulations will block the opening of new takeaways in areas where levels of obesity in Reception and Year 6 children exceed 10 and 15 percent of pupils.
In the Earnshaw Bridge ward, where the outlet is based, 9.3 per cent of reception-aged children are obese - but that rises to 20.8 per cent in the final primary school year.
These rules have already seen takeaways blocked in Blackburn and Bacup, in Lancashire, due to there being too many obese children.
The council also deemed the burger van to be damaging to Dunkirk Hall itself.
Debbie Roberts said the 'visual appearance' of the facility caused 'harm' to the pub as a result of their proximity to the historic building.
She added: 'There aren't considered to be any public benefits which outweigh the harm.'
Members voted to refuse the planning application and also declined to issue listed building consent for the business.
As Smokies put forward the application themselves, they have six months to appeal the decision or vacate the area - and are still trading on the site.
Sam said the company wants to work alongside the council to find a way to keep the van trading.
He said: 'We are proper community led business - supporting a handful of those who live in the area.
'We are happy to move the trailer to a different location in the car park.
'We want to come to a conclusion rather than be dismissed.'