A BID to turn a former Barrhead hair salon into a hot food takeaway has been accepted – despite six previous failed attempts.

The building on Arthurlie Avenue has courted plenty of controversy ever since a planning application was submitted to East Renfrewshire Council (ERC)’s planning applications committee in 2006.

The majority of resultant applications have been rejected, while an attempt to transform the premises – beside Jafar’s Newsagent – into a café was withdrawn in 2011.

Members of the public have regularly campaigned against the proposals, citing a range of reasons ranging from noise pollution, road safety issues and litter concerns.

It has also been argued the development, which sits close to St Mark’s Primary, is not in keeping with the local area plan.

The local authority received 34 written objections to the latest application, made by Mohammad Jawad.

However, that did not stop ERC’s planning applications committee from approving the plans on February 15, which will include the installation of a flue to the rear of the building.

Councillors voted to accept the application based on a number of conditions outlined in the application.

Most notably, the building will only be open for business from 11am until 9pm on Mondays to Thursdays, 11am to 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays and will be closed on Sundays to minimalise noise disruption.

Other conditions include the creation of three off-street car parking spaces within the site, one-way exit and entrance signage and the submission of proposed waste management arrangements.

The decision to approve the application after more than a decade of widely publicised objections from members of the public has been met with anger by one resident who has campaigned against the plans from the beginning.

Alan Kirkwood, 54, who has lived in nearby Aurs Drive for 15 years, expressed his annoyance.

The health and safety manager said: “It’s a shocking decision. I’m very disappointed.

“It looks like zero people have supported it in the local community. I was told there were 34 representations. There’s no logic. It’s been rejected several times.

“You see the state of the place just now, it’s uninhabitable.

“Jafar’s is the cleanest business I’ve ever seen. The place is spotless and you look at that mess next door to them.”

Alan has questioned the local authority’s reason to accept the application despite the volume of protests.

He said: “The daft thing is, why have the council suddenly changed their minds? They’ve never allowed a hot food takeaway. The circumstances haven’t changed.

“Obviously they’ve given it the go ahead based on council officers’ recommendations.

“But why are the councillors accepting it when absolutely zero of the people they represent support it?”