A LEADING councillor has called for the number of takeaways to be limited and told a planning committee: "Enough is enough".

Paul Browne, Liberal Democrat leader at Blackburn with Darwen Council, spoke out during a meeting where a businessman was granted permission to open a new shop, despite there already being several within walking distance of the site.

Yakub Rayat, of Rydal Mount, said he was delighted with the council's decision to allow him to open a new takeaway in Bastwell's Plane Street. He dismissed the objection of a resident who lived nearby as "over dramatic".

However, Robert Atkinson, who lives opposite the site, said it would cause traffic problems and plague the area with litter.

He said: "We don't need any more takeaways in Bastwell, there are already nine within 20 yards of this one."

Coun Browne, who told an earlier meeting that residents from all over the borough were complaining about takeaway smells, said: "It is time to do something about takeaways. I would not allow any more anywhere in the borough. Enough is enough."

There are over 100 takeaways in Blackburn and Darwen and the councils' planning department deal with new applications almost every week.

An application for another takeaway in Plane Street, close to the site of Mr Rayat's, was also recently sent to planners.

At the latest committee meeting, where the Plane Street application was passed, councillors refused permission for takeaways in Accrington Road and Bolton Road.

They also deferred making a decision about a bid to turn a former cycle shop in King Street into a takeaway and heard an application for a new one in Darwen's Gillibrand Street had been turned down.

Coun Jan-Virmani spoke in favour of the Plane Street proposal. He said: "When this shop was a bakery a lot of people used to stop there at four in the morning before they went to Mullards."

Coun Fred Slater added: "There is no concern shown to residents, why should they have to put up with this?

"The Plane Street application should be refused because that's what the officers have recommended."

Passing Mr Rayat's plans committee chairman Dave Smith added: "This would be a big improvement for that area."