A TAKEAWAY chicken restaurant in Tadley has been given the go-ahead by Basingstoke planning chiefs.

The owner of Baughurst’s New Standard Tandoori, Dilip Ali, applied to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to turn the former Brambles Florist, in Franklin Avenue, into a Peri Peri chargrill chicken takeaway.

The council’s 12-strong development control committee granted him the change of use permission which is required by planning law.

Since the application was submitted in February, the council has received 52 letters of objection plus a petition against the proposal, signed by 190 people.

Tadley resident Stuart Morgan urged the committee to refuse the application.

He said Tadley would lose a much-needed retail shop, and parking around the parade would be used up. He added that people living above the shop would be blighted by fumes from the extractor fans.

“It is a serious and life-changing moment for all concerned. The quality of life will be a huge factor,” he said.

According to a design and access statement submitted by Mr Ali, the restaurant will be open seven days a week, from 5pm to 11pm Mondays to Saturdays, and from 5pm to 10.30pm on Sundays, and will offer a free home delivery service.

At the meeting, councillors dismissed fears of smelly gases from the kitchen affecting residents above, because the extractor fan system would be odourless.

Councillor David Potter said: “These are commercial units, and this potential conflict between residents and commercial units does occur from time to time. In terms of the extraction system, we need to point out and note that the one in Crown Heights is the same system and there are no complaints that have arisen from that.”