A businessman’s hope of opening a Greek takeaway stand throughout the day in Weston High Street has gone up in smoke after North Somerset Council rejected his application.

Alexandru Georgescu wanted to sell hot food and refreshments from a stand opposite Argos, but his application for A & A Grill to trade there was rejected on Monday.

Weston Town Centre Partnership and several North Somerset councillors opposed the plans, with the former saying the business could create bad odours in the High Street.

Cllr John Crockford-Hawley, ahead of this week’s licensing meeting at the Town Hall, said allowing a food trailer to be open from 9am-8pm would undermine the efforts of improving that part of Weston.

He said: “In light of the council’s desire to improve the town centre through various regeneration projects… I can see no reason whatsoever why a mobile vehicle of this nature should be permitted in the High Street within viewing proximity of the Italian Gardens.

“It might be acceptable within a food festival where the whole Italian Gardens would be given over to a themed event, but allowing this to occur would be detrimental to everything we are trying to achieve.”

Fellow Liberal Democrat councillor Mark Canniford agreed saying allowing a food van in the High Street would see efforts to revive the town centre ‘fall at the first hurdle’.

The police, fire service, Weston Town Council and North Somerset Council’s food and environmental teams offered no objections against A & A Grill’s plan.

But the town centre partnership feared it could impact on road safety, would cause a ‘nuisance’ in the High Street and would be a conflict with other businesses operating in Weston.

Following the decision, Cllr Crockford-Hawley said he wants the council to have a more robust policy against mobile traders, other than at markets, fairs and festivals.

He said: “I am now most concerned that our street trading policy gives, intentionally or unintentionally, a nod and a wink in favour of such naff developments.

“Had Cllr Canniford, the town centre manager and I not sent written objections the application would have been approved.”