A NEW takeaway is set to open on Southend seafront despite opposition from more than 250 people.

Southend Council gave Adventure Island’s owners the Stockvale Group the green light to open a new single- storey kiosk next to the amusement park in Marine Parade, Southend, despite a 238-signature petition and 26 letters of objection to the plan.

Councillors on Southend’s development control committee praised the Stockvale Group for scaling down previous plans for an “iconic” yellow two-storey coffee shop on the site in July, fearing it would block sea views, on Wednesday.

Mike Grimwade, Lib Dem councillor for Prittlewell, said: “At long last we have had a developer who has listened to what we have said and reduced it in terms of height and opening hours.”

Ron Woodley, Independent councillor for Thorpe, said: “I don’t believe it will have a detrimental effect on people’s amenities. It’s a welcome change in terms of having another food outlet.”

Other seafront traders fear the 2.6m high, 12m wide timber clad building on former public pavement will turn Marine Parade into a side street.

Stephen Habermel, Conservative councillor for Chalkwell, shared the concerns, saying: “I believe we are here to protect views to the end of the pier and to the sea for all to enjoy.

“I feel it’s a great shame we are not able to do anything to protect it any further.”

But planners advised the scaled-down takeaway, which will create up to 20 jobs, will boost facilities for visitors.

Marc Miller, managing director of the Stockvale Group, promised flowers and planters would be set around the kiosk to make it more attractive.

He said: “It will deliver 20- plus jobs in the tourism industry and it is part of our plan for a £25million seafront expansion.”

The kiosk will remain open until 11pm, rather than the 2am closing time proposed for the coffee shop.