APPLICATIONS to open takeaways in Essex could be refused if the food being served is not healthy enough.

A special task force was set up by Essex County Council to examine the growing problem of childhood obesity in the county.

Now 20 recommendations have been put forward by the group to be considered by the council this week.

They include using “leverage” to get schools to promote free school meals and to encourage parents to provide healthier packed lunches.

The recommendations also call for all planning areas and public health departments to work to “promote low fat, sugar and salt” in all takeaways.

And they call for public health to be a “material planning consideration” for all applications for food outlets across every borough in Essex.

It could mean when an application is made for a fast food outlet a menu assessment may be needed.

Just like planning applicants have to establish the impact any development would have on parking, the environment or amenities, any application to sell food may have to establish any potential impact on health.

The group, led by Colchester county councillor Margaret Fisher, believes tackling obesity should be a priority despite the limited resources.

Mrs Fisher, who represents Abbey ward, said: “National evidence suggests it is important to influence lifestyles at an early age as it is difficult to treat obesity once it is established.

“It is considered highly likely obese children will then become obese adults.”

The group called for a stronger message to be sent out “to change from our sedate way of living and lead healthier and more active lifestyles”.

A fifth of children are overweight or obese by the time they start school and about a third by the time they leave.

Children from deprived backgrounds are twice as likely to be obese meaning the council wants to target those areas with the highest obesity rates for children aged 11 first.

These include Tendring, Basildon and Castle Point.

Essex County Council has budgeted £1,342,800 for weight management this year.

Last year it was £1,482,762.

The money also has to fund a specialist National Diabetes Prevention Programme run by Anglia Community Enterprise.