Takeaway proposal branded 'blight' on community by Planning Committee

Chair Rob Callister said he 'sympathised' with local residents

A planning application for a takeaway business, branded a ‘blight’ on the community, has been refused.

Dandara, which was acting on behalf of a potential business, had requested a change of use on a unit inside the Reayrt Mie estate, but this was seen as out of keeping with the area by the planning committee.

A representation was made to the planning committee on behalf of the tenant who lives above the proposed unit.

She said the tenant was worried about the potential noise pollution which would come from the business, smells and a lack of parking.

She told the committee that there’s no parking enforcement and despite there being two spaces allocated to the flat above the unit, these can often be taken by other people.

She added the Reayrt Mie estate wouldn’t be suitable for a takeaway business with late night opening hours because its residential area with lots of young families.

The application had proposed opening hours of 11am until 11:30pm and there was provision for 10 to 12 members of staff.

Committee member Matthew Warren said he had concerns about the opening hours and that the noise produced from the operations would affect a lot of people.

He also said that if the takeaway is focusing on deliveries then the business doesn’t need to be in the centre of the housing estate.

Chair Rob Callister told the hearing the difference between having a café underneath a flat compared to a takeaway business is too significant.

He added that he sympathised with the tenant who was living above the empty unit and there would’ve been an ‘expectation’ when the flat was bought about what would go in it.

It was refused by three votes to two.