A PROMINENT town centre shop in Wellington which has stood empty for some time could be turned into a kebab house.

Ahmet Boga wants to move his current takeaway from the back of the old Town Hall into the closed Stead & Simpson shoe store on High Street and has applied to Taunton Deane Council for planning permission.

Mr Boga is being forced to relocate Wellington Kebab & Pizza after Wetherspoon signed a lease to open up a pub in the grade II listed building.

If his application is successful, the takeaway would be open until midnight Sunday to Friday, with an extended opening until 2am on Saturdays.

Wellington councillors will have the final say on the plans after the Deane identified it as a decision to be made by the town council.

Keith Wheatley, vice-chairman of Wellington Business Association, admits opinion will be split over the move.

He said: “While his many supporters say that Mr Boga makes a mean kebab, critics say the proposed move to a prominent high street location gives out the wrong message about the town.

“It’s going to be controversial decision and it is right that it is being left to the town council to decide, not the planners in Taunton.

“The business association’s view is that everyone should have the maximum possible freedom to run their business, within the limits of law and local democracy.”

A decision is expected to be made by the end of August and people can have their say on the proposals by visiting www.tauntondeane.gov.uk and searching for planning application number 43/14/0069.