COUNCIL planners have given the green light for a closed Barrow takeaway to re-open – causing controversy among neighbours.

The former Sun Rise Chinese on Cavendish Street has been shut for many years but a meeting in Barrow heard that it had kept its legal right to remain as a takeaway in the future.

However, nine residents in Cavendish Street and Fenton Street formally objected to a planning application due to concerns about odours, noise, house prices and a boundary wall issue.

The application was discussed at a meeting of Barrow Council’s planning committee on Tuesday.

Charles Wilton, the principal planning manager at Barrow Council, told the meeting the applicant was within his rights to re-open the building as a takeaway.

Mr Wilton told the committee: “Members may be surprised to note that there are nine objections and why are there so many objections to such a small extension measuring three metres by one metre.

“What they are objecting to is the principle of a takeaway.

“Historically it was a takeaway and therefore can re-open without planning permission.”

Planning committee chairwoman, Ann Thomson, pointed out to the committee that the council would not now usually grant permission for a takeaway in the middle of a street with residents either side.

“There are a few closed takeaways in Barrow that still have an hereditary use, “ she said.

“Like all chip shops that have been there since the 1900s.

“The fact is the takeaway use is still there.”

Mr Wilton added that such planning applications would now usually be withdrawn or refused.

Council papers before the committee stated that concerns raised by residents about odours and noise from the kitchen had been “negotiated”.

Steps had been taken by the applicant to install a better extraction system than the previous one, with noise conditions also put in place.

The applicant, Musheng Shi, also provided evidence to the council to support his case that the re-opening was lawful.