A POPULAR 24-hour takeaway which was to be demolished to make way for a new cycle lane has been saved.

The Log Cabin in Whipps Cross Road, Leytonstone, is used by the area’s night workers, including taxi drivers and staff at nearby Whipps Cross University Hospital.

But a plan to improve the road for cyclists and pedestrians in time for the Olympics led to a stand-off between Waltham Forest Council and Corporation of London, which manages adjacent Epping Forest.

The council claimed the Corporation of London refused to release land so the planned cycle lane could be built around the Log Cabin.

A campaign to save the take-away attracted widespread support and now agreement has been reached between the two parties to enable the Log Cabin to remain.

Owner Jamie Phillips, 27, said: “I feel great. It is absolutely brilliant.

“A few weeks ago I felt like my legs had been cut off, but my livelihood has been saved.

“I honestly didn't think it would get to this stage.”

The Log Cabin’s licence has been renewed until next year, but the exact terms of the agreement between the council and Corporation of London are yet to be released.

Cllr Clyde Loakes, Waltham Forest’s Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “Jamie has run a grassroots campaign which has brought the Log Cabin’s plight to many people’s attention.

"Recognising the importance of this issue I have been working with my officers for over six months to secure the right outcome.

“We do everything we can to support local businesses, and the last thing we want to see is someone lose their livelihood because of intransigent red tape and, in this case, well-and-truly outdated bureaucracy.

"To this end we have been formally and informally pressing the Corporation of London, Boris Johnson, the Olympic Delivery Authority and Transport for London to find a solution.

"This has involved significant time and leadership from officers, the chief executive and myself.

“Rather than eat into the nearby green space, risk the safety of cyclists or cause the unnecessary closure of a popular local business the cycle path will now simply run around the front of the Cabin using part of the road.

"Frankly I’m amazed that it took so much time and hard work – both Jamie’s and our own – to come to the right decision, but ultimately we can all be glad that common sense won out.”

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