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Restaurateur defends takeaway plans

Restaurateur defends takeaway plans

A north restaurateur has defended his plans for an Indian restaurant and takeaway on the outskirts of Inverness.

Zahir Khan, who already runs a similar establishment in Dingwall, wants to convert an empty unit in Westhill.

The premises at Cradlehall Court were formerly used as an office and have lain vacant for five years.

Previous bids by a number of organisations to open a takeaway or fast food restaurant at the site were rejected due to fears over the impact on residents, including a nearby care home. There were also concerns regarding potential disturbances as well as noise and litter.

Mr Khan’s agent, Dave Macdonald, of Highland Planning in Tain, said the new proposals were “completely different” to those put forward in the past and claimed the new development would be beneficial.

He said: “Zahir’s proposal is for a contemporary Indian restaurant with a hot food takeaway concentrating on home delivery. There won’t be people standing about outside eating out of chip wrappers.”

He said he was impressed by a public meeting organised by Westhill Community Council.

He said: “It meant we were able to meet some of the community.

“It was good, I think we were pretty well received and we did our best to answer concerns and demonstrate this proposal is good and different to those which have gone before.

“We did what we could to show that litter, noise and disturbance wouldn’t be a problem.”

Westhill Community Council chairman, Donald Boyd, said about 20 members of the public attended.

He said: “There was a good exchange of views. It’s natural that the people that live closest to the proposed restaurant tended to be concerned about noise, litter and odours coming from the establishment.”