NEW fast-food restaurants such as McDonald’s and Burger King could be banned near schools, parks and nurseries as part of a government strategy to combat obesity.

The government will issue guidance asking local councils to use planning legislation to halt their proliferation.

Before granting permission for a new takeaway, councils will be expected to take account of the number already in their areas. Councils will also be obliged to consider the impact another outlet would have on the health of residents.

Writing in The Sunday Times today, Alan Johnson, the health secretary, says he wants planning decisions to “promote physical activity”.

He adds: “Some will characterise any attempt by government to tackle this problem as unnecessary interference with individual choice. The fact is that people worry more about a neglectful state than a nanny state.”

The guidance will be announced on Wednesday. It comes as evidence shows that fast-food restaurants are thriving despite campaigns to promote healthy eating. McDonald’s is selling more burgers than at any time since it arrived in Britain 34 years ago. Despite growing concerns about childhood obesity, there were more than 88m visits to McDonald’s restaurants around the UK last month alone.

The figure is up by almost 10m on the previous year, or an average of about 320,000 more each day. Sales are growing at close to the fastest rate since the late 1980s.

Critics were sceptical about the guidance. The Local Government Association, which represents 410 councils in England and Wales, said: “There is no evidence that where fast-food joints are located makes the slightest bit of difference to obesity.”

A spokesman said: “This is only going to affect possible new restaurants. Planning can't do anything to stop existing joints. So even if it were applied vigorously, it would take a long time to make any visible difference.”

However, the move was welcomed by anti-obesity campaigners. Tam Fry, chairman of the Child Growth Foundation, said: “Until the spread of fast-food restaurants is restricted, we will never beat obesity.

“Fast-food restaurants have replaced home cooking. A lot of people no longer have a table in their kitchen and eat out instead. There has to be a fast food-free zone around schools, parks, nurseries and other areas where children congregate.”

This week the government will also announce five pilot “healthy living” towns across England.

The towns will be given tens of millions of pounds to create more parks and cycle paths to make it easier for residents to keep fit.

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