A Hereford kebab shop is fighting to keep its sign which has been denied permission.

Offering shawarma, or thinly sliced spit-roasted meat, as well as pizzas, burgers and chips, The Grill opened late last year in Commercial Street in what had previously been a newsagent.

Mr Samman Rassul was granted planning permission for a change of use of the shop a year ago, though a later bid to extend the opening hours past the agreed 11pm to 1am, and to 4am on Fridays and Saturdays, was refused.

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Mr Rassul then applied in March for retrospective permission for the shop sign, which unlike its predecessor is illuminated.

There were no objections from the council’s highways officer, the city council or from the public.

The Grill shortly before it opened last year. The spelling mistake appears to have since been corrected.The Grill shortly before it opened last year. The spelling mistake appears to have since been corrected. (Image: Joshua Dyer) But planning officer Laura Smith refused the application for advertising consent in August, judging that the change to an illuminated sign would “cause harm” to the city’s central conservation area.

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While there are already several other internally illuminated signs in the area, “none appear to have the necessary consent, and this matter is part of a wider investigation by the enforcement team”, she said.

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However a “more subtle form of external illumination” at the takeaway “would be capable of being supported”, she added.

Mr Rassul has now appealed against the refusal to the government’s Planning Inspectorate.

No details have yet been published of the appeal, which is expected to take until late this year at least.