PLANS for another fast food shop in a street “saturated with takeaways” were given the green light by the Planning Applications Committee — despite a takeaway of the same brand already being located less than a mile away from the proposed site.

Mohammad Sajjad, who has owned Perfect Fried Chicken, of 158 Oxford Road, for more than five years pleaded with councillors during Wednesday’s meeting at Reading Borough Council’s Civic Offices to refuse permission for a Mr Cod fish and chip shop to be located at number 176. The trader said another addition to Oxford Road’s 35 takeaways, including a KFC and McDonald’s located in Reading Retail Park towards the Norcot Road end of the one-and-a-half mile stretch of road, would drive his customers away.

He said: “I’m working day and night to survive. This just isn’t fair. I work very hard to try and run my business and we just don’t need any more businesses on the street, there are more than enough takeaways and it’s a competitive trade.”

Mr Sajjad added: “We all work very long shifts and personally, I cannot do any more than what I’m doing to make ends meet. I work very hard, I pay my bills and have rented my home for the last 12 years because I cannot afford to buy a house.” But applicant Najib Mann said despite there already being a Mr Cod at 543 Oxford Road, he felt Mr Sajjad’s objections were “not valid”.

He said: “I’ve been looking at the objections and although I do sympathise with the objector I really don’t think the point he has raised is at all a valid one because with the popularity of the brand coming into the area it will attract more customers.

“We have been working very closely with the council’s planning department during the course of this application. The other problems that go with the application will mean we will also have to work closely with the other takeaway owners nearby too.”

The proposal was submitted to the council on December 12 last year and will see the mid-terrace building change its use from a payday loans shop.

As councillors granted approval to the applicant, committee chairman, Councillor Chris Maskell, reminded Mr Sajjad that all businesses are conditioned to compete against each other.

He added: “Sometimes I do however wonder how on earth businesses exist in that part of the town and for that I too sympathise with Mr Sajjad who is clearly working very hard to run a business. But sadly, we have no choice here but to grant this application planning permission.”