Plans for a new fish and chip shop in a village near Colchester have been put on hold - to allow councillors to visit the site first.

Eight Ash Green villagers fear problems with smell, noise and traffic if a proposal to transform Wood Corner Newsagents into a fish and chip shop wins approval.

Members of Colchester Council's planning and traffic regulation committee have deferred the matter so that a site visit can be carried out.

If the plans to build the new fast food outlet in Halstead Road get the go-ahead, it could trade from 9am until 10.30pm and employ 23 staff.

Eight Ash Green resident Clare Jeffs claimed those living near the site would be swamped with "indiscriminate parking" as well as cooking and waste smells.

Mrs Jeffs said the proposed 72-hour business week was excessive.

She claimed various fish and chip shop owners she had spoken to normally opened for about 50 hours a week.

Mrs Jeffs also wondered who would want to get fast food at 9am, adding most fish and chip shops started frying at 11am.

A spokesman for the applicants, Salmon and Sons, said four out of five plans for fish and chip shops had been allowed after appeals were lodged against the council's refusal with the planning inspectorate.

Salmon and Sons had pledged to use the latest equipment to cut the impact of smell and noise.

A 48-name petition was drawn up by residents living near Halstead Road against the plans.

The shop owners have compiled a 227-signature petition from people living in the village and surrounding areas saying they would use the shop if it got the green light.

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