PLANS by a restaurateur to open a new venue in Marsh have been shelved following months of delays and hundreds of objections.

Aurangzab Khan, known as ‘Biloo’, who runs the successful Indian restaurant, Kabana, on Trinity Street, had wanted to set up a new business on the site of the former Lodges supermarket on Westbourne Road at the back of The Croppers pub.

But the application which was lodged with Kirklees Council in the summer failed to find favour with local residents – with nearly 500 objecting.

Biloo said: “It’s got very messy. I had a meeting with Afzal Khan, (the businessman who owns the building), and reviewed the situation. I said: ‘I don’t think it will happen.’

“Neighbours and ward councillors, including the council leader Mehboob Khan, were not happy. It’s not worth upsetting people. I am now looking at opening a franchise in Manchester.”

Afzal Khan said although he was going to let the application run its course he had little confidence that the council would approve it.

He said he was hoping instead to lease the site to a national company that sells security equipment and hoped to have a decision from its head office by the end of the week.

Clr Khan said: “The three ward councillors and local people would welcome this news when it actually happens. Nearly 500 objections were received for the hot food function room. An alternative needs to be considered carefully.”

Clr Khan is also involved in a separate dispute with Afzal Khan over the management of the large car park that adjoins the former supermarket and former DIY store.

Residents were stunned last month when a builder brought in by Afzal Khan placed dozens of large boulders on the site and ‘fenced’ off the car park which has been in public use for decades.

He claimed he was anxious not to be held liable for any damage to users’ cars.

But Clr Khan said: “Local businesses are suffering because of this.”

He said the car park had been publicly accessible since the 1960s.

Afzal Khan said there was a possibility that the car park would return to public use once the former supermarket was leased out.

He said it would be up to the new tenants to decide their car parking policy.

Dalton community rallies round for mum-of-two after house fire: Click here to read.