An outdoor food court in Birmingham has been served with a stop trading notice after operating without planning permission, prompting protests from local residents.
Protests and Enforcement Action
The Rock Park, located off Adderley Road in Alum Rock, opened earlier this month without valid planning permission. Dismayed locals staged frequent protests outside the venue, demanding its closure. Despite a council confirmation that there was no valid planning permission in place to change the area's use into a food court, the fast food vendors continued to operate.
On Wednesday, May 20, a Temporary Stop Notice was served on the premises, citing a breach of planning control on the land. The notice states that anyone in breach of the order faces an unlimited fine, and there is no right of appeal to the Secretary of State against the order.
Reasons for the Stop Notice
The notice provides several reasons for the enforcement action:
- The land is located outside the Alum Rock District Centre.
- The development of an outdoor food court and restaurant destination outside the district centre has an adverse impact on the viability and vitality of the centre.
- The unauthorised use of the land as an outdoor food court has an adverse impact on neighbouring amenity in terms of noise and disturbance.
- The unauthorised use, including associated customer movements and servicing activity, gives rise to conditions prejudicial to highway safety.
Community Response
Alum Rock Independents Councillors Nosheen Khalid and Shaukat Mahmood said they would continue to press for enforcement. Local resident Tahir Aslam, who organised around half a dozen protests at the gates of the venture, said: "It's all credit to the local community for fighting for what's right and we are not giving up."
The stop notice represents a significant victory for local campaigners who have been vocal in their opposition to the unauthorised development. The council has urged anyone with concerns about planning breaches to report them for investigation.
