Plans to “revitalise” a town-centre shop which has been empty for a year by opening a chip shop were thrown out amid concerns of traffic “havoc”.

Denbighshire Council’s planning committee rejected an application to convert the Office 2 Home building on Wellington Road in Rhyl into a takeaway.

Muhammed Yasir Malik, of Parveen Coffee Limited, applied to Denbighshire Council, seeking planning permission for a change of use of the building.

But residents and shopkeepers wrote to the council raising concerns about the potential for unpleasant smells, traffic and litter.

Cllr Alan James proposed the committee followed officers’ advice and granted permission for the plan, insisting the application was the only one the council had received for the site.

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Cllr James said: “Whilst we might not like all the food shops and takeaways that are developing in our town centres, this is the culture.

“Retail has completely changed. People go online now and very often, well, most of the time. So this is one way of revitalising (the building) and bringing them back into use.

“From the applicant’s point of view, it is a good proposal. It is the only one we’ve got anyway.”

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Several councillors complained there were too many takeaway-type shops in Rhyl, but Cllr Terry Mendies said that wasn’t a relevant planning consideration.

Cllr Mendies also questioned objections to the plans because of “obnoxious gasses”.

“We are not talking about Chernobyl here, are we? We are talking about a couple of deep fat fryers, doing fish and chips.”

But the vote in favour of the chip shop was lost with eight councillors voting against, six for, and one abstention. Cllr Gareth Sandilands said: “I’ve concerns about parking.

“The area is rife with illegal parking along that very street. I have concerns about the enforcement of parking along that street. It is a hazard to people going through the thoroughfare.

“It is a one-way street and visibility from parking is a concern.”

Cllr Ellie Chard agreed. “It is very near the crossroads of the high street and Russell Road and Wellington Road.

“But the fact is all these takeaways now have these (companies) collecting delivery orders.

“I know it’ll be mad down there because you just can’t get through,” she said.

But planning officer Paul Mead said illegal parking was the responsibility of the police, not the planning committee.

Cllr Andrea Tomlin said Deliveroo and Just Eat [delivery workers] “hang around these establishments day and night” and said the junction was already bad enough.

She added it would create “havoc” at a very busy junction.

Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts pointed out the building already had permission to open as, for example, a chemist, which would also likely create a similar volume of traffic.

Some councillors also raised the issue of an “over proliferation” of takeaways in the area and how that might affect the health of the community.

In relation to this, Cllr Ellie Chard said: “We have got to look after our residents and our visitors.”

Councillors then voted again.

This time the proposal was to refuse the chip shop on the grounds of highway safety together with an over proliferation of takeaways in the area, considering the impact on community health.

But this vote also failed with just four councillors backing the proposals and nine against, with three abstentions.

Cllr Andrea Tomlin then again proposed that the committee refused permission but this time on highway grounds only, which was seconded by Cllr Gareth Sandilands.

This attracted criticism from Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts. He said: “I’m really confused this morning because in all my time of being on the planning committee, I don’t recall where somebody has made a recommendation and their reasons haven’t been the ones that have been taken through.

“I’ve never voted before on the reasons for going against officers.

“I don’t think it is a really good look from the outside, to people watching and especially if somebody is considering an appeal.”

But chairman Cllr Mark Young said it was “good” that the reasons cited were clear.

Cllr Terry Mendies then added: “I’m just as confused as Cllr Hilditch-Roberts.

“Does this mean there won’t be any more fish and chip shops in Rhyl because of highways?”

Cllr Young said Cllr Mendies was bending the facts and that the vote was clear.

The committee voted to refuse the planning application for the chip shop because of the highways issue.

Eleven councillors voted in favour of refusing permission with two against and two abstentions.