COUNCILLORS have decided to carry out a review of the number of takeaways in Wootton Bassett after one shop has applied for a late licence.

Spurred to action after kebab shop, Oscar's Grill, applied for a late licence, North Wiltshire District Council will also look at opening hours of the six takeaways in the High Street.

Town clerk Jonathan Bourne said: "Oscar's has recently applied for a late licence, and so the district council has decided to have this review to make sure that we are deciding all the applications on the same grounds, so it is fair for everyone."

Opinion among the townspeople seems to be divided between older residents who don't like the noise and litter created by people using fast food outlets late at night when the pubs have shut, and the young people who don't think the town has enough choice of takeaways.

There are currently two Indians, two fish and chip shops, one Chinese and a kebab shop in the High Street, although only one of them has a late licence.

Late opening takeaways can act as a magnet for groups of people when the pubs shut.

Wootton Bassett police sergeant Andy Fortune said: "I would say an overall review to see whether we really need any more takeaways in town is a good idea. I wouldn't say fast food outlets are a major problem, but they are one of the policing hotspots in town.

"People tend to gather at takeaways when the pubs close, so we have to have police patrols in that area.

"We did have two assaults outside takeaways just after Christmas, but as the whole area is covered by CCTV we caught the culprits fairly quickly.

"The takeaways themselves do not cause us any problems, it is just the people outside them."

The move has provoked strong feeling in the town, especially from those who think that Wootton Bassett already has too many takeaways.

Young mum Sue Mills said: "I think there are quite enough already, what this town and a lot of others seem to be lacking is a sense of balance between takeaways and other shops."

But another shopper, Claire Lee, 21, who is a housewife and mother, said: "I think it is about right, there is enough to give people a choice but not too many that they squeeze out the other shops.

"I don't really use takeaways, but I haven't noticed any trouble, and they should be allowed to stay, as many people use them."

Town councillor Chris Wannell, speaking at a town council meeting, welcomed the move.

He said: "It is about time we had some sort of overall standard about takeaways and their opening hours, instead of the piecemeal system we have at the moment.

Hopefully the District Council's survey will bring a standard in."