Should takeaways near schools have their opening hours restricted?

That's the question being asked of Medway residents as the council considers new steps to combat rising levels of obesity in Medway - where 30 per cent of adults and 20 per cent of children (aged 10) are classified as obese.

Public consultation is set to begin over the proposal - that new hot food takeaways should have their opening hours restricted if they are located within 400 metres of a school.

Consultation will begin for six weeks on Thursday, March 20, before the council's cabinet decide in June whether to approve the "guidance note"- which would be produced to advise decision-making when determining planning applications.

The council will also consult on putting a levy on new hot food takeaways to be used for health education on healthy eating.

Established outlets would not be affected by the propsed guidance.

At the end of last year there were 238 registered hot food takeaways in the area, which equates to one per every 168 children (5 – 16 year olds)