A TAKEAWAY is to open after the plans were backed by 650 residents.

A former post office in Gannow Lane, Rosegrove, Burnley, will now be transformed into a hot food outlet afer Burnley councillors gave the go-ahead at a development control mee-ting.

However applicant Arfan Jabaz was taken ill before the decision during the meeting at Burnley Town Hall.

The council commended Mr Jabaz in his absence for having “ambition to invest in a derelict building in Burnley.”

George Ashworth, who lives in Gannow Lane, said: “As a disabled person I cannot walk very far so for a takeaway to be opened here would make a huge difference to me.

“There are also lots of elderly residents who live in sheltered housing down the road, and I know they would benefit from the proposal.

“Some people say it will cause a lot of noise, but I live next to the pub in Gannow Lane, and if there is any noise in the area it will be coming from there.”

Rosegrove has one pub and a shop for residents.

Locals urged the committee to look kindly on the proposal due to the 'isolation' that many homeowners face.

However, Coun Derek Dawson of Burnley’s BNP party, slammed the proposal.

He said: “There would be a big litter problem if the council allowed this takeaway to open.”