A PETITION has been launched to stop a fast food van setting up shop in Covingham Square amid fears of littering, anti-social behaviour and noise pollution.

Three councillors are spearheading the petition against the planning application which was submitted to Swindon Borough Council at the end of last month.

Under the plans, applicant Mehmet Yilmaz hopes to open the takeaway van in the car park of Covingham Square, taking up the space of where the former recycling bins used to be located.

But after concerns were raised by residents, the trio of councillors are now calling on other locals to make their voice heard before it is too late.

In a letter posted to residents, councillors Dale Heenan, Kevin Parry and Barbara Parry outline numerous objections to the plans including the reduction in parking spaces, increasing anti-social behaviour and noise disturbance in the area and the potential risk to highway safety through blocking visibility of the Covingham Drive road junction for vehicles and cyclists.

Coun Kevin Parry said: “Clearly we support residents as we represent them.“There is a lot of anger amongst residents about noise pollution, the smell the van would create and the anti-social behaviour. There are residential houses here and we already have local businesses in the area as well as a pub. Less than a two minute drive away is a burger van at the rugby club and ideally, that is a location which we would seek.

“We believe the whole site here has everything it needs already.”

Coun Barbara Parry added: “It doesn’t help the healthy schools agenda by having this here open when the children come out of school.”

It is not the first time that Mr Yilmaz has tried to gain planning application for the takeaway van after plans were rejected back in 2014 for the same application.

He also sought permission in Oxford for a similar venture.

Under the plans, the kebab van would operate from 7am to 4pm Monday to Sunday and because the application is seeking to use council-owned land, the applicant, Mr Yilmaz, would also have to get permission from highways.

Around 100 signatures have been collected already — something which Coun Heenan believes shows there is strong support against the plans which people have until June 26 to comment on.

He added: “This is a very busy car park for people who use the shops and so if they were to grant permission, it would reduce the number of spaces available.

“We have done what we can to raise this and now residents are aware of the situation. It is now a matter of letting the planning department go through the processes.”

Since the story was published, Mr Yilmaz has told the Adver that his intentions are not to open a kebab van but instead a takeaway van where he will be offering breakfast. 

Anyone wishing to have their say should email sbcdc@swindon.gov.uk or write to development management, Swindon Borough Council 5th Floor, Wat Tyler House, Beckhampton Street, Swindon, SN1 2JH.