AN AWARD-WINNING Indian takeaway has announced it is selling its business over parking problems outside their shop.

House of Shah in Hamilton's Quarry Street said they are not able to load and unload stock outside their premises because of parking restrictions imposed by the local authority, South Lanarkshire Council. 

In a post on Facebook, House of Shah claimed the council won't allow them to park in front of the shop - even for 10 minutes.

The post said: "It is with great sadness that House of Shah is having to announce that we will be selling our business.

"Our customers have always supported us and helped us so we feel we have to let our customers know.

"Basically the reason is South Lanarkshire Council are not letting us park our vehicles to load/unload stock. We can't even have ten minutes to unload.

"Our suppliers are also in a constant panic of getting a ticket so they are refusing to supply to us too. Our delivery drivers are constantly getting booked too. We have tried speaking to the council but have had no joy. They simply aren't listening.

"So we give up and have decided that our journey will come to an end now."

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The take-away apologised for the decision, thanked customers and listed their achievements which included best takeaway in Scotland in 2018. 

Devastated customers responded to the decision in their hundreds. 

One said: "Absolute disgrace, a local family run business having to close down due to an unfair ‘policy’ not law."

Another added: "That’s ridiculous I’m personally raging as I stay in the street and know the hassle trying to park or get my shopping in, but to let a very popular business go for this reason is an absolute disgrace."

Local Councillor Josh Wilson showed his support for the popular eatery.

He said: "It is important that businesses are allowed to thrive in the town centre, not turned away.

"I’ve contacted the owners of the House of Shah and will be taking up their concerns with the council."

Gordon Mackay, Head of Roads and Transportation, said: “The council’s parking unit has been in dialogue with the House of Shah since late June when it was recognised that an error had been made in the drawing of double yellow lines.

“We assured the owners then, and have continued to do so, that as per the prevailing Traffic Regulation Order (TRO), the existing loading arrangements remain in place and that no enforcement would be undertaken.

“In practice this means that parking attendants will only issue a penalty charge notice (PCN) where no loading activity is observed for ten minutes or longer, in which case a vehicle would be considered parked. This has always been the case at this location.

“Following the post on social media we have acted again to reassure the House of Shah of this, as has the Hamilton BID group which represents a variety of businesses in the town.”