A CAR showroom is set to welcome diners after permission was given for a change of use to a restaurant.

Planning officeres on Thurrock Council have given the go ahead for Arrow Car Sales, 70 London Road, Grays, to operate as a restaurant - despite objectionbs from residents.

Unauthorised front and side extensions which have formed a glazed, enclosed canopy will be removed and the former shop front reinstated with "high level glazing".

An application to the council planning department reveals the applicant acknowledged the "excessive" size of the extension before agreeing to remove it from the current plan.

The site is set back from London Road and is in a predominantly residential area.

A notification of neighbouring properties attracted letters of objection. Concerns were raised about additional traffic, litter and smells, overlooking, noise and disturbance and loss of privacy.

The restaurant would have eight parking spaces for customers and would be open from 10am to 10pm.

John Toomey, who lives at 70A, London Road, said: "Noise from below shop is concerning as I am a shift worker and I am worried my sleep will be affected."

Ajmer Khatkar, of 72 London Road, said: "I object to the change of use by virtue of litter, cooking smells, late evening noise and disturbance, together with increased parking and traffic congestion, which will detract from the residential amenities of London Road Grays and be detrimental to the surrounding residential area as a whole."

A planning officer's report approving the scheme, said: "The proposed change of use and extensions and operational development would be acceptable. The installation of a ducting and extraction unit consistent with the type of operational use is proposed, and considered acceptable subject to condition.

"The amendment of the existing enclosed front and side canopy at the site by way of removing the front element and re-instating a shop front would be acceptable in terms of design and appearance, and would result in an acceptable impact upon the character of the area. Visual impacts would be negligible and would be acceptable in this instance."