COUNCILLORS unanimously rejected a plan for a 120-seat restaurant in Marsh.

Businessman Afzal Khan sought change of use consent to turn the former cinema, supermarket and DIY store off Westbourne Road into a restaurant.

Nine residents and the Kirklees Council leader urged the Huddersfield Planning Sub-Committee to refuse the application yesterday.

They were backed by a petition of 465 along with 30 people who wrote to Kirklees Council to oppose it.

Clr Khan told his colleagues on the committee he believed it would become an Asian wedding venue. The applicant’s agent, Andrew Keeling, dismissed the claim.

Mark Davies, of Marsh Community Forum, said they accept the need to regenerate the site , but said: “This is wrong for that building.

“The building is situated in a residential area and this is not appropriate for the area. It will bring a large amount of traffic and people on weekends and evenings which will be disruptive to residents.”

Several Syringa Street residents spoke against the plan, including Alan Phillips, Bronwyn Goddard, Pat McBride and Judith Hughes, who is also a ward councillor.

Mr Phillips said: “The near-misses on Syringa Street are horrendous. I’ve had two this week because my line of sight is blocked by vehicles parked on the pavements.”

Pat McBride said the noise and traffic as restaurant-goers left would disturb the residential area.

Brian Jagger said: “The size and scale of the development will inevitably increase congestion.”

He said the applicant had shown “little regard for the community” in putting stones on the car park, preventing its use.

Agent Mr Keeling said that was done to prevent taxi drivers using it and for insurance reasons.

Stephen Lyons, of Imperial Road, queried the opening times, asking why they needed to open 9am until midnight.

Mr Keeling said the time of opening was 5pm, not as speculated.

Resident Rob Lewis said: “Problems will inevitably rise when you open a large-scale restaurant with a late-night licence. I suspect there will be persistent noise nuisance.”

Judith Hughes said the application would have a “detrimental affect on residents” and the night time economy will change the area.

Clr Khan said: “The problem we have is with the site. Over the last three years business associates of his (owner Afzal Khan’s) have approached myself and colleagues asking us to support a change of use for an Asian wedding venue.

“I am fortunate enough to get lots of invites to these type of weddings and there are around 300, 400 or even more people at them.

“Huddersfield doesn’t have that type of facility. It does need a banqueting hall but not at this location. It doesn’t have sufficient parking.”

Mr Keeling urged members to consider the applicant on information contained in the council report, not on speculation, saying: “This application is for a 120 cover restaurant and nothing else – there’s no mention of a wedding venue.”

He also refuted a claim the interior had already been fitted out, pre-empting a planning ruling.

During the debate Clr Christine Smith said: “I think the residents living in and around here have a good case and I think we should take notice and reject it.”

Clr Mark Hemingway raised concerns about parking provision and queried where people would park if the 59 spaces were taken up.

Clr Ken Sims said they had a “duty of care” to residents living around Westbourne Road and that it would “cost the council” in enforcement if backed.

Clr Molly Walton said on paper the application looked sound, but “when you know an area and how it works you know what’s right for it.”

She prompted laughs around the council chamber when she said: “The agent says there’s no banqueting. If you’re sitting 10 at a table that’s a banquet.”

The 15 councillors voted unanimously to reject the application on highway and amenity grounds.