PLANS to turn a shop into a hot food takeaway restaurant have been met with animosity by residents.

The site, which falls on the junction of Rectory Road, Wivenhoe, and The Cross, has been an established retail site for years, with the applicant owning a convenience store and small hairdressing salon there.

However, another retail unit at number 38 has been vacant for some time and now the owner is seeking to transform the site into a hot food takeaway restaurant.

The works will also include a small extension to the rear, an upgraded shop front and a flue on the exterior.

But the application has seen scores of objections submitted to Colchester Council’s planning committee with concerns raised about increased traffic at the already busy junction.

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Among them is Wivenhoe councillor Mark Cory, who said: “Both I and Wivenhoe Town Council request the planning officer and planning committee conduct a site visit to understand the inappropriate context and setting of the site.

“The proposed business will cause a dangerous increase in traffic and issues with parking at this location.

“There is inadequate parking nearby which would lead to illegal or inappropriate parking as deliveries and customers visit the premises.”