'Smash burger van' to close to schools is shut down

Yahoo

04-05-2025

The owners of a 'smash burger" burger trailer are "gutted" after being forced hut down by a council because it was too close to local primary schools. Co-owners Sam Carroll, 21, and Aaron Millar, 21, lost their bid for planning permission to house their smash burger takeaway trailer Smokies on the carpark of Dunkirk Hall pub in Leyland, Lancs. The burger-loving duo employ 18 locals and in the wake of the decision they have revealed it means they will need to halve their staff numbers. The ruling comes after South Ribble Borough Council rejected the their bid on the grounds of new national legislation designed to prevent takeaways from being in within 'walking distance' of school gates. They also said the trailer caused 'harm' to the visible appearance of Grade II listed building which it sits opposite too. Yet owner Sam says this is "ridiculous" revealing it is "rare" for the van to get any kids coming to buy burgers after school. Dunkirk Hall themselves have revealed they are "in favour" of keeping the burger van 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 work out a way." The young entrepreneurs moved onto the plot on November 8 last year after a successful year at their first location at The Red Lion pub in Longton, near Preston, Lancs. To ensure the safety of their new plot they applied for planning permission from the council a couple of months later in mid January 2025. The black trailer is found in the front left of the 40 square metre carpark and takes up three car parking spaces - it is also hidden behind trees and bushes. They also have a two chilled storage shed next door. Yet on the week commencing April 14 they were "shocked" to receive an email stating the council was set to refuse their claim at a meeting held the following week. The authority's planning committee concluded the duo's latest venture didn't align with national legislation designed to prevent takeaways from being in 'walking distance' of school gates and places where children and young people congregate. This is unless the businesses are in designated town centre areas - which the council deemed their location is not. There are four primary schools and one preschool within a 0.4 to 0.6 mile radius of the van. You can sign the petition here: https://www.change.org/p/grant-smokies-planning-permission-at-the-dunkirk-hall-leyland