Plans have been lodged with the council to convert a former betting shop into a takeaway in Kendal.

Rizwan Saleem has submitted a planning application to Westmorland and Furness Council to transform the former Coral at 28 Longpool into a hot food takeaway.

According to planning documents the proposed takeaway would have opening times of 11am to 10pm on Monday to Fridays as well as Sundays with the takeaway closing at 11pm on Saturdays.

However, the plans have faced an objection from a councillor citing concerns over road safety.

Councillor Shirley Evans (Kendal Nether, Liberal Democrats) commented: “The pavement area outside the shop is one where pedestrians are already being put at significant risk. This is because vehicles drive onto the pavement to park to access existing businesses.”

“The previous business was a betting shop, with only limited deliveries and limited opening hours. A hot food takeaway is going to mean a huge increase in the number of vehicles accessing the business, whether they are customers, deliveries or deliverers.

“The business would also have long opening hours. Therefore the change of use would lead to an increase in the severity and the frequency of the danger”, Cllr Evans added.

The plans are currently under a consultation period which will end on Thursday (December 27).