A branch of fast-food chain KFC faces objections from neighbours to its application to extend its late licence to allow it to deliver customer orders until 3am at weekends.
The business, at 63-64 Western Road, Brighton, owned by K&Z Newhaven Limited, has applied to extend its late-night refreshment licence which currently allows the business to stay open until midnight daily.
A Brighton and Hove City Council licensing panel hearing was originally due to take place on Thursday 1 October to discuss the application.
Nine neighbours sent representations objecting to the application.
Neither Sussex Police nor the council licensing team objected to the application by K&Z Newhaven, which is owned by Nasir Hussein, 75, Nazmina Hussein, 71, and Shahaz Nanji, 45.
As a result of the objections, a panel of three councillors is due to decide the application at a hearing at 10am next Tuesday (10 November).
The company said, in its application, that customers would not be allowed in the restaurant after midnight.
But it wanted to deliver until 3am on a Saturday and Sunday morning, stick with a midnight closing time on a Sunday night and deliver until 1am in the morning from Tuesday to Friday.
A late-night refreshment licence is required to sell hot food or drink between 11pm and 5am.
The branch of KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) said that it had no plans to change the opening time – 9.30am daily.
One anonymous objector, whose details were redacted by the council, raised concerns about delivery vehicles as the cause of traffic problems along Western Road.
The unnamed objector said: “Bicycles, electric cycles, motorbikes and cars vie for pavement space when parking for takeaways.
“The turning and pavement riding and unpredictable manoeuvres are damaging the experience and safety of pedestrians and motorists alike.
“The night-time economy is one that has begun to feel dangerous for resident locals, with hooded bike riders congregating in dense gangs.
“The extension of operating hours would bring disturbance and disruption across the area and add to the problems caused by heavy goods delivery as well as the plethora of takeaway delivery drivers.”
Another objector whose details were also redacted, said: “Western Road is one of the most densely populated parts of Brighton, with a substantial residential population living immediately above and adjacent to commercial premises.
“Over recent years, the area has become increasingly residential through the conversion and redevelopment of former commercial buildings, making it even more important that the amenity of local residents is protected.
“The locality already experiences significant levels of late-night activity associated with takeaway premises, including delivery drivers arriving and departing, vehicle movements, customers waiting outside, raised voices and general street noise.”
The hearing is scheduled to be webcast from 10am next Tuesday (10 November).
