PROPOSALS for a chip shop in Worcester's Newtown Road look set to be approved, despite alleged racist opposition.

The plans were thrown into doubt, at first, when city councillors said they were suspicious about a petition, supposedly from neighbours keen to see the Newtown Stores building transformed.

Ourang Zaib asked the council to give the takeaway the go-ahead, promising he would ensure it was not awkward for householders.

Mr Zaib, who wanted to convert part of the property to residential use, is offering to install modern ventilation equipment and to close at 11pm.

"A racist letter has been circulated asking people to object to our plans," he told the planning committee yesterday.

The anonymous letter said: "Just because they have an Asian councillor who is not even a candidate in this ward on their side, it does not mean that they can walk over us."

On five occasions since 1995, planning permission for a takeaway had been turned down.

When an appeal was heard in 1997, highways grounds and nuisance to neighbours were cited as key reasons for rejection.

But, yesterday, the council's officers felt transportation problems were not serious enough to object.

And Mr Zaib said 37 people had backed him this time by signing a petition, including the people living next door to the site.

Councillors said they were keen to study the petition after noticing the names were in the same handwriting.

"There's a question mark over the authenticity of these names," said Coun Paul Denham.

But the head of development planning, Peter Yates, said the handwriting belonged to a colleague who wanted to save photocopying costs.

Councillors described the site as tatty and believed giving permission might help improve the area.

They postponed a decision so that conditions - such as closing times - could be agreed, although they said they were of a mind to approve the plans.