Fast food takeaway plans for Greens of Ellon are approved
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Councillors have backed an application to convert part of the Greens of Ellon store into a hot food takeaway.
The Formartine area committee determined the proposal for the third time this year during its meeting on Tuesday.
The plans were submitted to Aberdeenshire Council by Gorkem Gorur to change the building which is located at The Square.
The application had already been assessed by Formartine councillors twice this year. It was firstly deferred because there was insufficient information to determine, and then the second time was for a site visit, which was carried out on July 19.
In the report that went before the area committee the local authority's planning department recommended the application be granted.
The development would consist of internal alterations to separate the hot food area from the existing retail shop.
This would include the installation of counter space, kitchen and a customer waiting area would be located to the front of the unit.
This part of the building is no longer used by the business and the hot food takeaway will serve kebabs, pizza and chips.
Planning officer Ann Ramsay told Tuesday's area committee meeting: "Since the last area committee the agent has provided in writing the proposed hours of operation. They are Monday to Friday 12 noon to 11pm and Saturday and Sunday 12 noon again until midnight.
"In addition we have also received a letter from the owners of the building Greens of Ellon. They have confirmed the arrangement for a collection point and delivery point for this unit and its location will remain as existing, which is to the rear of the building off of Schoolhill Road.
"In terms of the collection point for the bins its right at the back of the unit which is the existing collection point."
In her report that went before councillors it recommended the application be approved.
It outlined: "The property will continue to provide services within the town centre. While there will now be a takeaway adjacent to the existing grocers, it is easily accessed on foot, or by public or private transport.
"The neighbourhood's character will be unchanged as the external changes are minimal to allow the installation of an exterior door to be road-facing and the street already consists of a mix of uses.
"There is sufficient public parking in the immediate area therefore there will be no significant loss of amenities and the unit will continue to connect to existing services.
"The proposal complies with Policy B2 town centres and office development and all other relevant policies of the Aberdeenshire Local Development Plan 2017, and as such, the planning service recommends that permission is granted with conditions."
The local authority received eight objections to the plans whose issues included potential nuisance from litter and odours; amenity impacts due to traffic increase, a rise in pedestrians and associated noise; and there was no suitable area for bins, recycling and other waste disposal.
One letter of support was submitted which outlined that it would increase the choice of takeaways in the town and it would be great to fill the unit.
Councillor Gillain Owen made a motion to go against the planning officer's recommendation and refuse the application.
She said: "This application will have an unacceptable impact on the residential properties who live around Greens towards the end of Schoolhill Road.
"They will suffer a loss of amenity. By nature of a takeaway, cars will indiscriminately park outside wherever they can to collect their food and they'll wait there as long as they possibly can.
"There will be added noise and smells which will come from the food that's being cooked, even with the flue.
"The constricted nature of that part of Schoolhill Road is a concern as it is one way and if cars are parked this may create a traffic jam, particularly late at night as well." She was seconded by Councillor Anne Sterling.
Councillor Paul Johnston submitted an amendment that the application should be approved.
He said: "There are very few reasons why you can reject this one.
"On that basis it looks as those we really should be accepting the officer's recommendation on this.
"If we do have a problem with cars parking on a narrow pavement there are roads engineering issues that could be dealt with. They are not proposing any at the moment as part of this application but it is something local members could promote at some particular time to deal with this.
"We have to be reasonable and take the evidence that is in front of us." He was supported by Councillor Louise McAllister.
In the vote councillors voted eight to four in favour of approving the application.
