DEAN PARK residents are objecting to an Indian restaurant and takeaway opening on their street and are furious that they weren't informed of the plans.

An application has been made for Panna Restaurant, with a bar license, to open the corner of Dean Park and Northgate, a conservation and residential area.

The presises was previouslya cafe with a children's soft play area.

Despite plans for a similar business on the same street being withdrawn back in 2009 after an onslaught of complaints from residents, Panna has been given the go ahead.

And, at January's Peebles Community Council meeting, Iain Gordon of Dean Park, spoke on behalf of his neighbours, stating that this will have a “major impact” on their standard of life.

Mr Gordon said: “There are serious environmental issues to come with this.

“The planning permission granted has not taken into consideration the environmental impact of changing from a ‘small café ‘ which opened to 5pm, to a restaurant, bar, and takeaway which will be open late into the night.

“There will be a number of associated problems such as an increase in traffic and parking in the street, which is already congested, noise pollution from extractor fans, car engines running with takeaways and deliveries, and late night visitors.

“There will be increased trade waste, wheelie-bins on the pavements, and hot food smells polluting the street.

“It will encourage late night revellers stopping in for carry outs after the pub and there are huge concerns about the potential for anti-social behaviour.

“The residents have the extra worry of having their gardens, doorways, and closes used as toilets.

“Plus, the bright illuminated signage will be very invasive.”

After voicing these concerns to community councillors, Mr Gordon contacted Scottish Borders Council in the hope that the plans will be dropped.

He added: “This is not the High Street, it's a residential street and our bedroom windows look directly on to the building.

“It will have a major impact our standard of life. We don't want this on our doorsteps.”

The premises is a class 3 category, which means that it can change from a cafe to a restaurant without the need for further planning permission.

But Dean Park residents disagree with this policy stipulating that the two businesses run completely differently.

Plans for a restaurant and takeaway were submitted to SBC for the same street in 2009, but the application was rejected after numerous residents objected.

Dean Park resident Henry Rodgerson had wrote to the council stating: “The proposed establishment will be a magnet for anti-social behaviour, something foreign to Dean Park residents who enjoy a quiet residential atmosphere.

"This threatened invasion on our way of life will, if allowed, be the end of our quality of life.”

Mr Gordon explained that this time round, he and his neighbours are angry that the proposal was allowed to go ahead without them being notified.

“We weren't consulted by anybody that this was going to happen. We only found out about it because my wife saw two Asian men walking into the building with pots and pans and on asking them what they were doing, was told they were starting work on a new restaurant and were opening on February 16.”

Mr Gordon argued that Peebles was already saturated with restaurants and hot food takeaways.

Tweeddale East Cllr Willie Archibald, chairman of the Licensing Board, commented that were currently more licensing premises in Peebles North than anywhere else in the Borders.

However, he added that there would be many stages for the restaurateur to go through before the business was given the go ahead.

"I can understand some aspects of their concerns, but there are lots of hoops a premises open late at night will have to go through to be approved, especially if they want an alcohol license.

"Their objections can be communicated to the planning department."