Headteacher in healthy eating row with chip shop boss

Aug 21 2010 by Tony Larner, Sunday Mercury

A HEADTEACHER is embroiled in a ‘batter’ healthy eating row after a nearby chip shop opened with the same name as his school.

Cardinal Fish Bar is even using the colours of Cardinal Griffin High in Cannock, Staffordshire, on its shop signs.

But chippy owner Kyri Varhava said the rumpus was a complete red herring.

Cardinal is the name of an endangered fish found off the coast of Indonesia, he claimed.

But headmaster Michael Burrowes says the fish bar flies in the face of the school’s healthy eating policy. He is concerned locals will think that the chippy is affiliated with the school.

‘‘When we saw the sign of the fish bar, eyebrows were raised,” he said.

“It is called Cardinal Fish Bar and the sign uses the same colours as the school uniform – red and black.

“In all fairness, it isn’t just the staff at the school who were concerned with the chip shop. Even students have been offended by the name and the use of colours on the sign. They feel they have been taken for a ride.”

Plans for the fish bar were first mooted last year, and met with concern from staff at the Cardinal Way school. But the proposals were given the green light and the chip shop opened in January.