A proposal for a new Asian restaurant, turned down with a jokey comment as part of a planning blunder, has been resubmitted.

The application arise for a restaurant specialising in Vietnamese and Indian cuisine to replace Terry Rowse Family Butchers, in Chaucer Road, Sittingbourne.

It was submitted earlier this year but was among five applications to be determined by a junior staff member from Mid Kent Planning Services earlier this month during an embarrassing gaffe. The worker, tasked with software testing, added several choice remarks to ‘dummy’ applications which were accidentally published and are legally binding.

The decision notice refusing the new restaurant simply read: “Just don’t. No.”

Swale council is now looking to have the decisions officially overturned.

The application for the restaurant explained it would be the first of its kind in the south of the town, offering pan Asian cuisine based around Indian and Vietnamese street food.

The road currently has a parade of 11 shops, as well as three take-aways providing fish and chips, Chinese and traditional Indian fare.

'There are no other take-away restaurants of this type in south Sittingbourne...'

The agent states: “The style of food produced will be somewhat different from the traditional Chinese or Indian take-away food and, therefore, we consider that there will be no conflict with the existing take-away restaurants in Chaucer Road.

“There are no other take-away restaurants of this type in south Sittingbourne and therefore we consider that it is likely that our client’s business will probably increase the footfall in Chaucer Road and benefit adjoining businesses as customers from the immediate area are likely to use a more local outlet rather than travel to Northwood Drive or the town centre.”

If approved the restaurant expects to take on four members of staff.

View the planning application at here, with reference 21/505202/FULL.