Don’t open a Domino’s near our homes, urge neighbours of former St Martin’s Tavern in Pratt Street

Councillors have backed neighbours’ fight against a Domino’s Pizza takeaway being built on a residential street in Camden.

More than 30 objections have been submitted to the council since the fast-food chain filed a planning application in September to install a take-away in the ground floor of a former Victorian pub in Pratt Street, near St Martin’s Gardens.

The old St Martin’s Tavern was most recently home to a Japanese restaurant until it closed down in March.

“A lot of residents have objected,” said Richard Cotton, councillor for Camden Town with Primrose Hill. “There’s going to be deliveries late into the evening which is going to cause quite a lot of annoyance to people who live around there.”

In one objection, published on the council’s website, neighbour Martina White said: “Please don’t turn the building into a takeaway. [...] I lived near a takeaway before and had to move because I could not sleep.”

Patricia Callaghan, deputy leader of Camden Council, is concerned that, given its proximity to Camden High Street, the take-away would become a hotspot for drunken and anti-social behaviour.

“The police have told us that now they regulate the pubs and clubs so much, they don’t get that many problems there,” she said. “The real hotspots for abuse and attacks are the takeaway places.

“I objected because I don’t want residents there to be disturbed most of the night, every night.”

There have been further objections because the proposed site for the Domino’s is within walking distance of two primary schools – St Michael’s CE and Our Lady’s Catholic.

Last year, mayor of London Sadiq Khan called for a ban on new fast-food shops near schools in a bid to tackle childhood obesity in the capital.

Domino’s Pizza was approached but declined to comment. Comments on the planning application are now closed to the public.