WHILST it is very welcome news that Domino’s Pizza will be taking over a long-vacant and tired looking building in St John’s, it is disappointing that another empty shop is being filled with a fast food takeaway.

The former Zig Zag’s nightclub and Smoke Stack pub in St John’s have both been empty and falling into ruin for more than a decade having both been hit by fire in 2007.

The descriptions of “eyesores” and “dilapidated mess” are no exaggeration.

Nevertheless, bringing a building that has become almost institutionally vacant back into use - bringing money and jobs - should be supported but perhaps something other than a takeaway would be better.

The council has long rejected plans for new takeaways throughout the city centre in recent years for a variety of reasons - including disorder and public health - and it would not be much of a stretch to say St John's does not need more takeaways.

But still, a shiny new takeaway still looks better than a decaying building not really doing anything for anybody.