PLANS to turn a shop into a takeaway have been approved, despite claims it was against council policy, after it was revealed previous owners had already sold hot food from the unauthorised premises.

North Berwick restaurant owner Franco Cucchi bought the empty premises on the town’s High Street unaware that planning permission had never been given for its previous use as a takeaway.

The shop, at no 5 High Street, was a former home to Paprika and Cater Ceilidh, both of which, it was argued, cooked and sold food on the premises.

At a meeting of East Lothian Council’s planning committee this week, committee member Councillor Dave Berry admitted he had been a customer of Cater Ceilidh, declaring: “I admit I used it. They sold pasties which I miss to this day.”

Despite the former use of the property, it was most recently home to an energy firm and remained classed as a retail shop.

When Mr Cucchi applied for permission to reclass it as a hot food takeaway, officials recommended the committee refuse his application. They argued the premises had not been properly marketed to prove there was no demand for it to carry on as a retail shop.

But their claims were dismissed by the committee, with North Berwick councillor Jim Goodfellow saying a 'for sale' sign had been outside the premises for months.

He said: “Anyone in North Berwick would have to be blind not to know these premises were up for sale. It was actively being marketed.”

And fellow ward councillor Tim Day pointed out there had been no objections or concerns raised when it was used as a takeaway in the past.

He said: “It has operated without issue for a number of years.”

The committee was told four objections had been received to Mr Cucchi’s application, mainly relating to the narrow pavement and concerns about groups congregating outside. However, again, it was argued no complaints had been received or issues come up when it operated in the past.

The committee voted unanimously to give it the go-ahead.