RESTRICTIONS limiting the number of pubs in Brighton city centre should be replicated for takeaways to help fight the obesity crisis, a charity has said.

Health charity Hoop said measures similar to the use of cumulative impact zones for pubs, clubs and bars could help lower the “concerning” number of takeaways in parts of the city.

City councillor Lizzie Deane said takeaways could be squeezing out other traders and damaging the city’s appeal to shoppers.

The suggestion comes after figures show there are 84 takeaways in just one council ward in the heart of the city.

The number of takeaways in Regency ward, which includes the seafront west of Brighton Palace Pier and The Lanes, has risen by 17 per cent since 2014.

There are also 74 takeaways in St Peter’s and North Laine.

The two wards have more than a quarter of all 407 takeaways in the city. In total there are more than 1,500 takeaways in Sussex including 136 in Worthing and 108 in Eastbourne.

The cumulative impact zone was introduced to the city in 2008 and puts the onus on new pubs, bars or clubs to prove they will not add to antisocial problems. When expanded in 2011, the city’s cumulative impact zone was the biggest in the country.

Sarah Le Brocq, director at Hoop UK, said: “It would be great to bring something like that in. There are limits on having too many supermarkets in one area so why not takeaways?

“If you make takeaways less accessible and less concentrated in some areas that could be helpful in tackling the obesity crisis.”

Cllr Deane, Green councillor for St Peter’s and North Laine, said: “A high concentration of takeaways is often at the expense of other types of shop. Seventy four takeaways in the North Laine seems a very high number and it would be damaging to the Brighton economy as a whole if this unique area were to lose its diverse and quirky appeal.”

Cllr Deane said licences for venues selling takeaway food after 11.30pm can only be refused if it has nuisance or antisocial behaviour implications and not simply because there are too many of them.

A council spokeswoman said: “It is part of Brighton and Hove’s attraction that local eateries offer a wide range of cuisines from across the globe but equally the council recognises the potential health effects of a poor diet.

“We have a number of initiatives to help people make a healthier choice; businesses that offer healthier foods can join our Healthy Choice Award while the city council has also formed a partnership with the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation promoting the reduction in sugar consumption.”

TAKEAWAYS BY COUNCIL WARD:

Brunswick and Adelaide: 17

Central Hove: 28

East Brighton: 17

Hangleton and Knoll: 12

Hanover and Elm Grove: 12

Hollingdean and Stanmer: 5

Hove Park: 7

Goldsmid: 12

Moulsecoomb/Bevendean: 6

Patcham: 7

North Portslade: 5

Preston Park: 23

Queen’s Park: 22

Regency: 84

Rottingdean Coastal: 18

South Portslade: 22

St Peter’s and North Laine: 74

Westbourne: 11

Wish: 15

Withdean: 4

Woodingdean: 6

Figures compiled by the University of Cambridge and the Centre for Diet and Activity Research