Blackpool council has used anti social behaviour legislation to close down a late night takeaway.



This is the first time Blackpool Council has used the ASBO law in such a manner District Judge Roger Lowe sitting at the town’s magistrates court was told.

Judge Lowe ruled that the Food Lounge on Market Street which has been shut down for one week must now remain closed for a further four weeks.

The closure order can be put in place for a maximum six months.

Applying for for the order council lawyer Mike Caveney said that the authority was unhappy with the way the establishment was run by Nabil Awadi of New South Promenade Blackpool.

He listed previous problems the council had dealt with Awadi’s businesses in the resort including the Fallen Angels lap dance club and other food takeaways.

“There have been problems with the age of young people being employed late at night,” said the prosecutor.

“We have also been given a statement by a British Gas employee who went to the Food Lounge who says he was offered drugs and a woman if he adjusted a meter in favour of the owner.”

The prosecution said that there had been problems with young and vulnerable people going too and from the Food Lounge including some missing from home.

Giving details the council chief licencing officer Mark Marshall denied there was any personal prejudice between himself and Awadi.

He said:”What the problems are were that Mr Awadi’s manager could not operate the CCTV properly,there were times he had not got a doorman on dusty and he employed staff via Facebook.”