Plans for a third fish and chip shop on Canterbury High Street were rejected due to ventilation concerns.
Shawarma Bros wanted the spot on Canterbury High Street, where Kaspa’s Desserts used to be for eight years.
Shawarma Bros first tried last year and changed the plan, trying again in October. The company runs a London food place selling Middle-Eastern food in Waterloo, and they wanted to sell fish and chips in Canterbury under the name Fish Bros. Two other fish shops are close by.
The new shop needed a vent to remove cooking smells, but the vent’s design didn’t work. Canterbury City Council didn’t like it, stating in a report on February 7 that the vent would cause odor problems and annoy nearby people, leading to the refusal of permission.
Kaspa’s Desserts in Canterbury closed, and The Canterbury Society didn’t support the shop, believing it hurts the area’s charm and mentioning concerns about removing historic material. The vent was also a considerable point of concern.
The council’s own heritage team objected, worrying about changing the building. The health team disliked the vent’s location too, believing it wouldn’t get rid of smells.
Shawarma Bros said they improved the vent design, stating it was smaller than their first try and that the vent’s ending point changed.
The company applied for another permit for selling food at the location; the council hasn’t decided on it yet. People contacted Shawarma Bros for their side.