Helston is to get its fourth fish and chip shop after plans were approved for the outskirts of town.

Cornwall Council went against the opinion of the town council and agreed to allow Jonathan Jane and his wife Samke to turn the Old Turnpike Dairy – most recently the base for Cornish Cottage Holidays – into a takeaway and restaurant.

Mr Jane, who grew up in Ruan Minor and at one time worked at Nettles Fish and Chips in the town, said: “We’re overjoyed. It always made sense. Helston is growing and we’re supplying a service to this end of town. We really hope to cater to a different market.”

He hopes to open by the end of March.

The plans have prompted a mixed reaction, with the Janes withdrawing their first application from August in order to make changes to the car parking.

It was resubmitted in October, to include eight spaces at the back of the businesses, and attracted 11 letters of objection and five letters of support.

Concerns included the effect to neighbours in relation to smell, noise, litter and the attraction of rats, together with a potential increase in traffic and safety issues.

Some also raised concerns that the parking places at the front of the shop were currently used by householders living adjacently.

Helston Town Council recommended refusal over members’ belief that the development would “exacerbate highways issues” in terms of “potential inconsiderate parking” and vehicles exiting the site in close proximity to a roundabout, as well as “impinge on the residential amenity” of neighbouring residents.

Supporters, however, believed support should be given to small new businesses a time of recession, with one person saying they would “rather see a property used than empty and in disarray.”

Another pointed out that the business previously operated as a shop before the days of the Helston relief road, when the traffic was actually busier in the area.

In his report Cornwall Council case officer Matthew Doble wrote: “It is not uncommon for fish and chip shops or restaurants to be found in residential areas and this occurs in a number of Cornish towns.

“It is not the role of the planning system to control competition between respective enterprises. There is no evidence that the proposed use would generate conflict with, or undermine the vitality of the town centre.”

The council’s highways department raised no objections, believing the addition of the parking area would reduce the likelihood of inconsiderate parking.

It added in its report that the access for the new parking was farther from the roundabout than the existing, “well used” parking area to the front, and there was “no evidence of any safety issue.”

Planning conditions state that the business can only open between 11am and 10pm Monday to Sunday, but Mr Jane said he did not plan to open Sundays.

Other conditions include parking being in place and adequate schemes to protect neighbours from noise and smells signed off before it can launch.

Mr Jane stressed that the extraction system he was using was more effective that those normally in place and would remove “95 per cent” of the potential smells before they were released into the air.

The couple plan to live next door to the business.