IPSWICH trader Keith Harvey is fuming after a takeaway got the go-ahead to open next to his fish and chip shop.Mr Harvey, who has run Whitehouse Takeaway for more than 20 years, said 491 people signed a petition against the shop on Ulster Avenue.

IPSWICH trader Keith Harvey is fuming after a takeaway got the go-ahead to open next to his fish and chip shop.

Mr Harvey, who has run Whitehouse Takeaway for more than 20 years, said 491 people signed a petition against the shop on Ulster Avenue.

But despite objections Ipswich Borough Council approved an application to allow the empty premises to be turned into a takeaway.

Mr Harvey, said: "My customers will be angry. They feel very strongly against it.

"The petition had a lot of support, not just from my customers, but also people who live nearby who didn't want to have the takeaway.

"Basically it was a foregone conclusion. It seems to me council made up its mind even before it got to the committee stage.

"I think they (the council) restricted the hours a little bit with opening times until 10 pm. But you know what the council is like, they just do what they want to do.

"I expect if the application had been for a bookmakers, or a post office it would not have even got to this stage."

The application was for a pizza place but it is thought the former butchers could be turned into a kebab shop.

Residents voiced concern because they were worried about litter, late night opening times and trouble on the estate.

"All the council is doing is taking the business away from us," said Mr Harvey. "We deliver to old people on the estate, pensioners, may be they are very ill and can't get out and we take their dinners round to them all we do is charge the same as in the shop.

"We don't make any money out of it. If they take the business away from us this won't happen."

A spokesman from Ipswich Borough Council, said the decision was made in the normal way by the development and control committee and in line with planning policy, which allows for a certain percentage of premises to change from normal retail use.

"This particular shop has been vacant for two years and we hope local people will be pleased to see it open for business again."

He added while they acknowledged more than 400 people signed the petition only two or three of these lived in Ulster Avenue.