A vacant shop in a Norfolk town is set for a new lease of life as a takeaway after a planning application was given the green light despite locals' objections.
Applicant L Gilgil seen his plans to change the use of the old AmnalisJ venue hire shop in Lowestoft Road, Gorleston, into a hot food takeaway approved by Great Yarmouth Borough councillors.
The former shop had been used as a Covid jab centre.
As part of the plans, Mr Gilgil had also requested consent to install an odour extraction and ventilation system and flue at the premises which was also approved despite concerns.
A public consultation process was carried out ahead of the planning meeting, with a total of 17 objections were received.
READ MORE: Neighbours claim sprawling hedge is devaluing homes in quiet Norfolk cul-de-sac
Among the reasons for objections were fears of "odours, vermin and noise disturbances", "antisocial behaviour", "too many takeaways nearby", "parking pressures", "increased litter", and highway safety concerns.
Another neighbour had also objected due to "vagueness" in the plans as to what sort of a takeaway restaurant it would be if the bid was approved.
The council minutes say that the application "indicated that the takeaway would operate
as a pizza and chicken shop".
One condition councillors insisted upon when approving the application was that the business opening hours could only be between 3pm and 11pm.
Mr Gilgil did apply for permission to open from 3pm to midnight between Sunday and Thursday and on Friday and Saturday to be open from 3pm to 1am.
'COVID CHAOS'
The shop site, which later became a Covid-19 vaccine centre, has been vacant since 2021.
In December of that year, the premises hit the headlines when Hayden Brown of Gorleston was jailed for gluing the locks and preventing more than 500 people from getting their booster vaccine.
He was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison after pleading guilty to criminal damage at Norwich Magistrates' Court in December 2021.
Brown superglued the locks at a Covid-19 vaccination centre based in the old Amnalisj shop overnight on Friday, November 26, 2021.
READ MORE: When will the Market Place redevelopment in Great Yarmouth be finished?
Brown admitted to causing public nuisance and possession of a Class B drug after a quantity of cannabis was found at his home following the arrest.
Covert cameras were placed at the site after two previous superglue incidents on Friday, November 12 and Saturday, November 20 had occurred.
It was these hidden cameras which caught him in the act just a few days later.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here