COUNCILLORS have raised concerns over an ice cream parlour which has been operating in West Bay without planning permission for almost three years.

Sammii G's ice cream parlour at Clarence House, has applied for change to use to a restaurant and café and also a hot food takeaway outlet, despite the business not having the correct permission since it opened in April 2014. Members of Bridport Town Council's plans committee objected to the premises being used to sell hot take-away food over concerns for neighbours.

Committee chairman Cllr Sarah Williams said she was happy for the grade II listed building to be used as a café, but not to sell hot takeaway food.

She said: "I'm quite happy for change from A1 to A3, but I think hot takeaway would mean they could start selling fish and chips, burgers or whatever and I think that could really detrimentally affect nearby residences.

"I would like to object to them having A5 permission. If they decide to sell the shop on and it's got hot food permission, anything else could go in there."

Cllr Julian Jones said that different types of businesses and residents mixed well in Bridport town centre.

He said: "I'm a bit dubious about about objecting on those grounds.

"There are similar things around in Bridport and they co-exist with nearby residents and they seem to get on fine. I don't feel I know enough that there could be problems."

Councillors objected to the premises being used to sell hot takeaway food due to potential noise and impact on nearby residents. The committee also felt that operation hours and measures to mitigate odour and noise would need to be looked at.

West Bay residents have also criticised the retrospective application.

Sylvia Stafford said: "The nature of the current business requires more attention to environmental health and public health issues than the former business, particularly with regards to appropriate waste management, hygiene and the provision of public toilet facilities, and the management of noise and odour in the kitchen.

"Suitable mitigation as suggested by the environmental health officer should be a mandatory requirement if these applications are approved."

But the business has been given the backing of Purbeck Ice Creams, whose products are sold at Sammii G's.

Purbeck Ice Cream director Patrick Ward said: "Sammii G's have stocked Purbeck Ice Cream since their inception with their whole ethos being the support of local producers within Dorset.

"They have grown from a small ice cream shop into a fantastic ice cream parlour, café and takeaway and are now the highlight of a visit to West Bay. They are our number one scooping customer and now sell more ice cream than the Bournemouth beaches, Lulworth Cove, the royal Parks in London and National Trust at Studland Bay."

West Dorset District Council will consider the application.