A BUSINESS owner says he will realise an ambition of 25 years when he opens a takeaway on Walney tomorrow (Sunday).

Chris Alexandrou opens Walney Conti, on Walney Promenade, at 4.30pm on Sunday afternoon.

The former Avon Taxis office is now a hot food takeaway for Mr Alexandrou, who also owns Ulverston's Lakeland Continental takeaway.

The Greek businessman says he has faced hurdles to open a takeaway on Walney in the past.

He said; "I'm very excited to be opening a takeaway on Walney. I have been working and trying to do this for 25 years.

"We will be delighted to welcome our new customers, there has been so much interest, you wouldn't believe it.

"We will have good quality food, with meat coming fresh from a local butchers each day."

Mr Alexandrou has created five jobs with the new venture, which will serve the likes of pizzas, burgers, kebabs and chips. He says the takeaway could eventually employ seven or eight people.

Mr Alexandrou said plans to build the business slowly, aiming to eventually start deliveries on Walney and then to Barrow.

He says he wants to bring choice to Walney, saying that Ulverston, which has a similar population to the island, has much more choice for takeaways.

The new takeaway has not been without controversy. There were some objections from neighbouring properties to the planning application which went before Barrow Borough Council. There were concerns about noise, traffic disturbance, parking, odours and bin storage.

But the planning committee granted approval with conditions in April.

The conditions included opening hours restricted to between 8am to 11pm, installing equipment to control emissions of fumes and smells, noise restrictions on extraction equipment and having the bin storage shown in the plans in place.

The former Lil'K Dance Studio, which is next door to Walney Conti, won permission to be converted into a takeaway on appeal some years ago, despite being contrary to policy, the reason why it was previously refused by the borough council.

After the appeal the dance studio was bought by the owners of Andy's Takeaway, of Hastings Street, Walney. They wrote to the council this year to say they have not opened the building as a takeaway as neighbours campaigned against it and they felt it would have been disrespectful. The Andy's takeaway owners previously said they have no plans to open it, but they did say if another takeaway was approved in that location they may be forced to reconsider to protect their business.