A FAST food takeaway in Southall has managed to get its opening hours extended despite objections from the local police.
Chicken Cottage in South Road, Southall, went before Ealing Council’s licensing sub-committee on Monday to apply for a variation in its hours.
The eatery will now be open from 11pm to 3.30am Sunday to Thursday as well as 11pm to 5.30am on Fridays and Saturdays. Previously it, had closed two and a half hours earlier.
But PC Les Smith, licensing officer based at Hanwell Police Station, said he was against the proposal.
In a report to Ealing Council, he said: “Any extra hours granted will in my opinion have the likely impact of increased noise nuisance, anti-social behaviour and littering.”
He added that South Road was already a trouble hot spot, with crimes in the area including theft, robbery, assault and drug possession.
The takeway has already been fined £700 at Ealing Magistrate’s Court after officers from Ealing Council bought food out of hours as part of a test purchase.
Simon Boniface, licensing officer at the council, said the premises had also been the subject of complaint in relation to noise created by machinery and deliveries.
But the committee gave consent to the proposal. A spokeswoman for Ealing Council said: “The changes are subject to conditions.
“The police must be satisfied with the CCTV at the premises and when open after 1am at the weekend, they must have one SIA-registered member of door staff on duty.
“Chicken Cottage was not granted permission for further seasonal variations or to operate outside standard hours during festivals such as Eid, Christmas or New Years Eve.”
