THE owner of a Newport fish and chips shop which was refused permission to extend its opening hours has taken their case to the Welsh Government.

Beatrix Hughes, owner of the Pie Corner Fish Bar in Rogerstone, had vowed to fight the “shocking” decision made by Newport City Council’s planning committee last month.

An application sought to extend the shop’s opening hours on Sundays and Bank Holidays from 5pm to 8pm, to 12noon and 9pm.

But councillors rejected the proposals on June 6, saying the additional hours would cause “increased odour nuisance and litter, to the detriment of the amenities of residents”.

The meeting heard that “lingering” smells of cooking oils were already impacting the quality of life of Samantha Curtis, who lives near the takeaway in High Cross Lane,

Now the case will go before the Planning Inspectorate, with LRJ Planning claiming the councillors’ decision contradicted the advice of their own officers.

The planning consultants, writing on behalf of Ms Hughes, also allude to a public consultation of 40 properties within a 50-metre radius of the shop drawing only two objections.

The firm’s statement reads: “It is considered that the council has given significant weight to one local resident and not the relative planning merits of the case.

“Such merits include the fact that the Council can adequately control issues relating to odour and litter by condition, which is the case within the existing hours of operation.”

The report continues: “The appellant is only seeking to extend the hours of operation on a Sunday by opening five hours earlier at 12noon and closing one hour later.

“The appellant is therefore at a loss to understand that when the council has effective controls in place to deal with odour and litter, that they have made a decision contrary to the professional advice of its officers.”

A decision on the appeal is expected to be made in the coming months.