Councillors have defied the recommendation of planning officers by voting in favour of a restaurant's bid to put up a glass and steel balustrade around its outdoor seating area.

The decision on the railing outside Marriott’s Warehouse restaurant on King’s Lynn’s South Quay was made at a Monday meeting of West Norfolk council’s planning committee.

In a report, officers had said the balustrade would “by virtue of its materials, be in stark contrast to those of the warehouse, the quayside paving and other historic buildings nearby" and recommended the application for refusal.

But Conservative planning committee chairman Vivienne Spikings said the wooden pallets currently outside the restaurant don’t provide anything “except splinters”.

Eastern Daily Press: Vivienne Spikings resigns from her position as portfolio holder for development at West Norfolk Council. Picture: Matthew Usher.Vivienne Spikings resigns from her position as portfolio holder for development at West Norfolk Council. Picture: Matthew Usher. (Image: © Archant Norfolk 2014)

“If you want to take Lynn forward, we can’t keep putting objection after objection in as to why we can’t - let’s find reasons why we can.”

She proposed the committee approve the plan, and councillors then voted by majority in favour.