AN enterprising Carmarthenshire couple will run a meals on wheels food business – right next door to their gun shop.

Edward and Jayne Lee’s business ventures at a residential estate in Betws were given unanimous approval by the county council’s planning committee.

The report before councillors said: “Given the same ownership, the two uses can be managed to co-exist without conflict.”

The Lees were given temporary four-year planning approval in 2013 to run a gun shop at the former residential sales office at the Ffordd y Glowyr estate, where they live.

They now want to use the gun shop for the meals on wheels business, and move the gun shop to an attached side building.

Councillors were told that the gun shop operated on an appointment-only basis and was strictly controlled.

Planning officer John Thomas said most of the hot meals would be delivered, although there would be a limited collection service.

“It would serve an identified need locally,” he said.

There were five objections to the application, and one letter of support.

Betws Community Council said it was concerned about potential food waste attracting vermin to the site, which is close to a children’s play area, and about cars queueing to pick up hot meals.

Mr Thomas said the applicants would eliminate any food waste, and that the extra traffic generated by the proposals “would be extremely low” – and not enough to justify any traffic calming measures.

The committee voted in favour of the officers’ recommendation of approval with no debate.

The planning permisssion has several conditions attached, including that the gun shop continues to operate by appointment only with no more than one customer at a time.

There will also be set hours for the meals on wheels venture, which will not be open to passing trade.