Row over 100-year-old chippy

From the archive, first published Thursday 7th Dec 2006.

The owner of what is claimed to be Bradford's oldest fish and chip shop is furious that the Council has charged him £265to confirm that it is a fish and chip shop.

David Hepworth contacted the planning department because he needed proof that historic Beckhill Fisheries had been a fish and chip shop for more than ten years.

He and his wife Denise have run the chippie continually for 25 years and they know it dates back at least a hundred years.

So when they put the lease up for sale and the buyer's solicitor asked for proof that it was allowed to trade as a chip shop, they did not anticipate any problems.

Mr Hepworth says he first contacted Bradford Council in July but no one responded to his phone calls and letters.

He and his wife, both 49, who live next to the shop, in Beck Hill, Buttershaw, lost a buyer because of the delay.

Mr Hepworth went to the planning department on October 24 with a copy of the letter he had already sent to the Council. He was told to pay £265 and wait up to two months for proof of planning permission - if he got it at all.

Mr Hepworth, who fears a second buyer will now pull out, said: "The whole thing seems ridiculous. Even after I paid the £265 they still want up to eight weeks to confirm the premises are indeed a fish and chip shop. I feel I have been ripped off. How can they justify this?

"The man we bought the shop from said he believed it was the oldest purpose-built fish and chip shop in Bradford."

Their neighbour, Roy Alderson, 94, can confirm that it predates 1912.

Mr Alderson, who lives on Alderson Street, named after his family, worked in the chip shop peeling potatoes when he was a boy.

In a letter to the Council, he stated: "I am 94 years old and I was born in 1912 in this house, which is just around the corner from the shop, and as far back as I can remember this has been a fish and chip shop. In fact the owner, a Mr Randall Smith, used to buy flour from my parents before I was born. So, yes, this shop has been a fish and chip shop for over ten years."

Mr Hepworth added: "I am angry that the planning department at Bradford Council wants £265 and six to eight weeks to confirm the premises are indeed a fish and chip shop!

"I have already lost one sale and am now likely to lose another because of their refusal to acknowledge my letters, and the six to eight week delay."

Mick Parr, Bradford Council's Area Planning Manager, said: "The Council is not challenging the lawful use of this property as a fish and chip shop. I understand that it is the people who want to buy the business who are asking for the certificate of lawful use.

"To get a certificate of lawful use Mr Hepworth has to provide the evidence to us that it has been run as a fish and chip shop continuously for the last ten years. Once that has been received and we are happy with it a certificate of lawful use will be issued.

"This certificate has a fee of £265 which is a national fee and this is national legislation."