A 'takeaway town' with 19 fast food shops on one street is contributing to soaring obesity rates and low life expectancy in one part of our region.
However, cracking down on the unhealthy shops is a huge challenge for development officers, who say no other businesses are interested in opening there.
Runcorn's Old Town is notorious amongst locals for the proliferation of takeaways, and many have called on the local authority to stop allowing them to open.
Last year people were outraged when a 19th takeaway opened in the area, despite the council developing a Hot Food Takeaway policy to prevent this from happening as far back as 2012.
The borough has one of the lowest life expectancy rates in the country and around 37.5% of Year 6 pupils are classed as overweight or obese.
Halton council have renewed promises to contain the "clustering" of hot food outlets in the borough to address these health challenges, in a major document known as the Local Development Plan.
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But speaking after a cabinet meeting today, where a draft version of this plan was approved, chief planning and development officer Tim Gibbs explained why it will be a difficult task.
He said: "The problem with clamping down on takeaways is that if nothing else comes forward, then do you want a boarded-up shop with the shutters down, but no unhealthy store, or do you want a takeaway, which will keep the street active and is a business?
"It's really tough times for the high street. It's not like we are positively trying to encourage takeaways. They are the type of business coming forward.
"Health problems are such a small part of planning decisions when want to promote a viable development.
"The choice we have got is between that or an empty building."
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However while tackling Runcorn's takeaway problem won't be easy, Mr Gibbs said major plans to regenerate the area could improve the health of the town in the long run.
Runcorn is set to get a major revamp over the next few years under a master plan known as Runcorn Station Quarter .
The plans will see the highway network round the town's run-down station upgraded, making room for major developments including a transport hub, restaurants, houses and hotels.
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Mr Gibbs said that by regenerating Runcorn as a whole, it will attract different types of developments to the Old Town,
He said: "The key is if we improve the public realm it will be more attractive to developers as there will be more footfall.
"This is what we are trying to do with Runcorn Station Quarter. It's is part of the longer term plan of what we are trying to do to improve the town.
"The land value will go up, [Runcorn Old Town] will become more attractive to people."
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The Runcorn Station Quarter is part of an ambitious 20-year plan to give Runcorn the "wow factor".
Other key developments hoped to improve the health and wellbeing of the town include green infrastructure, better leisure facilities, canal-side homes with ground-level restaurants and cafes, a viewing deck inspired by London’s Tower Bridge and improved pedestrian and cycle routes.
