APPEAL Over Indian Takeaway Plan Succeeds

COUNCILLORS have overturned refusal of permission for a hot food takeaway in Greenock’s East End.

Planning officials had rejected the change-of-use application involving shop premises at 76 Belville Street, saying there were potential noise, parking and traffic safety issues, and that it had not been demonstrated that a satisfactory way to disperse cooking odours could be implemented.

But the applicant lodged an appeal. Councillors on Inverclyde Local Review Body have now voted to allow the takeaway.

Agents for the applicant had argued in a statement: “The issue of parking has been overstated, as the majority of patrons would arrive by foot, as the business would serve the immediate local population. There is street parking nearby. Deliveries would be by takeaway companies.”

“Any potential disturbances to local amenity could be mitigated by good management and reduced opening hours.

“Sufficient information has been provided regarding the kitchen extract flue. Consent for attaching the flue duct to the rear of the building is a legal issue, not planning therefore has no relevance as a material consideration in determining the application.”

It continued: “The proposed development is for an Indian takeaway which is a facility currently lacking in the local area and in demand by the local population.

“The applicant feels that it is unfair that other takeaways can provide for the local area but his Indian takeaway has been refused.”