WORCESTER City Council is being urged to “rethink” the decision to allow a new restaurant to open in a takeaway hotspot by a business that fears it could “disappear.”

Council planners gave permission for a new Chinese restaurant to be opened by Tianxia Chen on Astwood Road, Rainbow Hill, a year after a similar application by another trader was refused by the city council. 

READ MORE: Chinese takeaway given green light 

Mazedul Hasan Shakil, manager of Balti Mahal on the same road, says there are already 10 food establishments within half a mile with six of the them inside 200 yards, including two Chinese restaurants.

Increased pollution, traffic and parking problems have been cited as the pitfalls not only for the area’s residents but also the businesses already there.

“We are deeply saddened and concerned of the approval to allow a new takeaway restaurant located on Astwood Road by Worcester city council,” said Mr Shakil.

“During the Covid pandemic we have all seen and felt the financial pressures put upon us. As a business, we have always helped the local community as best we can, organising fundraising events and through monetary donations to local charities.

"Allowing this new takeaway to go ahead will be damaging to us and we are urging the local council to rethink their decision.

"We operate in the already crowded food delivery service of Worcester. Balti Mahal prides itself on offering authentic Indian food, using traditional methods passed on through generations and using only the finest ingredients.

"Allowing this new takeaway to open in direct competition with us may see Balti Mahal, and all its community support, disappear from Worcester.

“Together we have given so much support to the local community, and we are now asking that the local community rally together to help us.”

Adding context to his concerns, Mr Shakil added: “This is a small area and one of the most polluted areas in Worcester.

“There is already too much traffic here, there are no parking spaces available and we end up having to fight for the parking spaces with residents and local shop customers.

"That is not good for the business, our genuine customers then cannot park in the area.

"It is a nightmare for parking in this area. During the pandemic the existing businesses are struggling, I don’t have a clue how they did this (passed the proposed new establishment).”

Worcester City Council has been contacted for comment.