COUNCILLORS are set to make a decision on the fate of an application for a kebab shop in South Ham.

As has previously been reported in the Gazette, a planning application has been lodged with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) to change the use of a building in Buckland Parade.

What is currently the Lincoln Hardware shop, which closed in August last year, had an application put forward by Andrew Thomas to change the use of the building.

The application would see the building change use from being Use Class A1 (a shop) to Use Class A5 (a fish and chips and kebab takeaway) with the installation of a new shopfront and an extractor fan.

The application will be put in front of councillors at a Development Control Committee meeting tonight, with the recommendation for approval, following conditions that have been laid out in the report.

These include: using building materials that match the others shops in the area, that the shop will not open before 11am or remain open after 11pm from Mondays to Sundays, that the deliveries for the shop when in use will not take place before 8am or after 8pm, and that noise mitigation measures be put in place during the construction period, among many others.

There were objections from residents and councillors at the time, as well as letters of support, with the three South Ham ward councillors writing in objection.

A statement from Cllr Colin Regan, with the support of Cllrs Seán Keating and Gary Watts, read: "The addition of another takeaway to the three existing outlets is an over development of the shopping parade.

"To date the existing three takeaways already generate enough parking problems, noise, and excessive food smells.

"To add another takeaway would cause unacceptable levels of noise in the early to late evening for residents living in Buckland Avenue, High Drive, and Esther Close.

"Also the smell of food will increase to levels that local residents should not have to tolerate. And of course parking which is an existing problem will only get worse."

A decision will be made at tonight's Development Control Committee meeting.

To view the application, visit the planning section of BDBC's website with reference code 19/00450/FUL.