Published at 11:07, Thursday, 07 July 2011

THE future of an Indian takeaway hangs in the balance after councillors turned down a bid for retrospective planning permission.

Station Balti, based in Millom Station, has been up and running for a few months but does not have the necessary planning permission to operate as a takeaway.

A meeting of Copeland Borough Council’s planning panel ‘reluctantly’ denied the owner, Mohammed Ahmed, retrospective permission because the building’s system of ventilation was deemed inadequate. But the decision may not be the death-knell for Station Balti, which employs four members of full-time staff.

The council’s hands are currently tied, said head of planning Tony Pomfret, because it cannot grant permission while the ventilation problems remain.

The council now plans to write to Mr Ahmed to advise him what measures need to be put in place if he plans to re-submit his application.

Mr Ahmed said after the meeting: “It has taken a long time, hopefully it should be all right. I’ve got the support of the customers, people keep coming and asking me what’s going on.

“The only thing I am waiting for is the letter. It’s about the extractor fan. I have changed the fan so there shouldn’t be a problem.”

The takeaway remains open but Mr Ahmed has to resubmit a planning application within three months or the business could face closure.

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk